Future of the Cupra Born: Production in Wolfsburg or Zwickau?

Future of the Cupra Born: Production in Wolfsburg or Zwickau?

There's a lot of excitement in the car industry: current rumors surrounding the production of the popular car Cupra Born make you sit up and take notice. Volkswagen's plan currently calls for the electric car models, including the Cupra Born, to roll off the production lines in Wolfsburg and Emden from 2027. However, it could well be that this car will continue to be built in Saxony - that is not set in stone yet. A statement from Daniela Cavallo, the works council chairwoman, brings a little more clarity to the matter. She refutes the speculation that production of the Cupra Born will not be relocated from Zwickau and emphasizes that the Tiguan and the ID.3 are currently bringing in enough orders to keep assembly line 1 well utilized.

However, the situation is not that easy either. “The Cupra Born would only come to Wolfsburg if the Tiguan volume allows it,” Cavallo continued. The decision on whether the Cupra Born will remain in Zwickau and the change in production is expected in the next planning round in winter. It will therefore be exciting to see how the situation will develop.

The situation in Zwickau

With the planned move of ID.3 and Cupra Born, things could get tight in Zwickau. Loud Report Ultimately, only the Audi Q3 e-tron and its Sportback version will be manufactured in the former factory. Does Zwickau actually have that much future if it only operates with one series? Experts doubt that the site can be operated cost-effectively with so few models. In the first quarter of 2024, only around 11,000 units of the Cupra Born were sold, while the forecast volume of 80,000 vehicles annually is viewed rather optimistically.

Decisions about the fate of the plants and production lines are currently hotly debated. If the Audi Q4 e-tron were to be withdrawn from Zwickau, that could ultimately make the situation critical for the factory. The location could then come under pressure and possibly even be closed prematurely if the situation does not improve.

Volkswagen's production strategy

All of this takes place against the background of a comprehensive production strategy on the part of the Volkswagen Group. Again Annual report 2024 shows, the focus on sustainable production is of central importance. In 2024, total production will decline by 3.8% while productivity remains constant. The focus is on increasing efficiency and implementing new technologies.

In total, Volkswagen plans to start 82 vehicle projects in order to put the production sites on a sustainable basis. An important goal is to establish the “Zero Impact Factory” vision, which emphasizes sustainable production methods. Innovative approaches are intended to further minimize the environmental impact, which is of great importance not only for the company itself, but also for the regions affected.

The coming months will be crucial in setting the course for the future of both the Cupra Born and the production facilities. It will soon become clear whether the car will actually come to Wolfsburg or whether the Saxons can be held. One thing is certain: things are anything but calm in the automotive industry.