Zwickau before the future: Will the Cupra Born stay or will it go to Wolfsburg?

Zwickau before the future: Will the Cupra Born stay or will it go to Wolfsburg?

The VW plant in Zwickau faces an uncertain future. Current developments in Wolfsburg are attracting attention, especially the statements made by group works council boss Daniela Cavallo. These highlight that Volkswagen is currently achieving better results than expected, which could certainly influence the situation in Zwickau. However, there are also challenges: In May 2023, 18% more electric cars were registered in Germany than in the previous year, but the majority of customers still prefer petrol or diesel engines, and only one in six new cars is electric. The lvz.de reports that the high demand for the Tiguan is even leading to special shifts at the main plant in Wolfsburg.

Particular attention is paid to the Cupra Born, whose whereabouts in Zwickau are still unclear. Rumors say that he could not be relocated to Wolfsburg as originally planned. That would be a boon for the Zwickau location, as according to a collective agreement, production of ID.3 is to move to Wolfsburg in December 2022. In the future, Zwickau will only produce the Audi models Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback. “We have to produce at least 120,000 vehicles per year in Zwickau in order to keep the location economically viable,” explains Zwickau works council leader Uwe Kunstmann. 107,697 Audi Q4 e-trons were already produced there in 2022.

Puzzle about production numbers

Uncertainty about the economic viability of the Zwickau plant is growing as the agreement to relocate parts of production to Wolfsburg comes to a head. The current capacity utilization in Zwickau in particular leaves a lot to be desired. The Cupra Born only had around 11,000 units in the first quarter of 2023, which calls into question the ambitious annual targets of 80,000 vehicles. The question here is how Volkswagen can probably increase production numbers, especially since new electric models in Wolfsburg are to be converted to the SSP platform and production of the Golf will end by the end of 2026.

It is also reported that Hall 54 in Wolfsburg is being prepared for new electric cars, which is part of the strategy to optimize utilization in Wolfsburg. Nevertheless, it remains exciting: Zwickau was not only the first VW plant to be completely converted to electromobility, it also recently produced its one millionth electric car. The factory has produced over seven million vehicles since 1990, including important models such as the ID.3, ID.4 and the Cupra Born. Around every second electric vehicle registered by the group worldwide comes from Zwickau, which makes the location particularly valuable, as [goingelectric.de](https://www.goingelectric.de](https://www.goingelectric.de/2025/04/30/news/volkswagen- Feiert-eine-million-elektroautos-aus-zwickau/) explains.

The next round of planning and the requirements

The next crucial planning round for the future of the Zwickau plant is scheduled for November. Experts warn that the plant needs new models and needs to be upgraded to the new SSP electric platform to remain competitive. Dirk Vogel, an AMZ expert, emphasizes the urgency of this conversion, which, as things stand today, should take place from 2028. The plant will continue to be established as a competence center for the circular economy.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. The challenges are great, but Zwickau has also achieved a lot and, with good management, could continue to play a strong role within the Volkswagen Group in the future.