VW Phaeton – All electric car to flagship the brand in 2019!
VW have planned to suspend production at the Dresden factory in Germany. In light of the emissions scandal, it is preparing for a fully-electric VW Phaeton!
VW has previously stated that it would discontinue production of its Phaeton saloon. The premium vehicle, which cost more than 1 billion euros to develop, has never really met the desired sales figures since it was released in 2002.
Production of the current VW Phaeton, assembled in Dresden, Germany, is planned to end in March. The factory will then be redesigned and prepared for production of the new all-electric VW Phaeton. They hope to accomplish this by 2019.
“Production in Dresden will be suspended during the restructuring phase,” Jens Rothe, head of the works council of VW’s operations in Saxony, said on Wednesday, adding that the plant would be awarded a new product for when it reopens, ensuring “employment will in future be secured on today’s level”.
In light of the recent emissions scandal, VW has pledged to expand its hybrid and all-electric vehicle range. The scandal still casts a deep shadow over the German car brand.
The cutbacks at the Dresden factory has been expected for a while, as demand for this premium car has dropped to roughly eight cars per day. The current VW Phaeton is the most expensive VW-badged model. Manufacturing areas of the plant have all-parquet floors with workers wearing white uniforms, and sometimes even white gloves as they assemble cars by hand.
These plans to shut down production, that were announced at a staff gathering, coincide with the plans to cut around another 600 temporary jobs next year at another plant.
Source: IOL