Volkswagen Marks Production of 1 Millionth Electric Vehicle at Zwickau Factory
Zwickau, Germany – May 1, 2025 – Volkswagen has hit a major production milestone, announcing that its Zwickau facility has rolled out its 1 millionth all-electric vehicle. The landmark EV is an ID.3 GTX Performance in Kings Red Metallic, set to be delivered to a customer in Bavaria in the coming weeks.
The achievement comes just over five years since Zwickau transitioned to full electric vehicle production, making it the Volkswagen Group’s first site to shift entirely from combustion engines to EVs. The plant now produces six electric models under the Volkswagen, Audi, and Cupra brands.
A Historic Transition from Combustion to Electric
Since the last gas-powered car left the Zwickau assembly line in June 2020, the site has evolved into a multi-brand electric hub. Models like the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Cupra Born are all produced here, contributing significantly to Volkswagen’s global EV push. In fact, nearly every second electric vehicle registered globally by the Volkswagen Group originates from Zwickau.
The journey began with the launch of the ID.3 in November 2019, the first vehicle built on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform. Within just 26 months, Zwickau had successfully launched six EV models, a testament to the plant’s agility and workforce dedication.
Leadership Comments and Future Strategy
Danny Auerswald, head of Volkswagen Sachsen, praised the team: “One million electric cars is a tremendous accomplishment. Our workforce has consistently delivered high-quality vehicles, even during difficult times. Now we must ensure the site’s long-term competitiveness by exploring new opportunities — including roles in the circular economy.”
Uwe Kunstmann, representing the General Works Council, added: “This milestone showcases our transformation and reliability. We now look forward to building a second strategic foundation through recycling and circular economy initiatives.”
A Key Role in Europe’s EV Leadership
Volkswagen produced 204,000 EVs in Zwickau in 2024 alone. Since acquiring the plant in 1990, over 7 million vehicles have rolled off its lines. The site also contributes to the manufacturing of bodies for luxury models like the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus.
Across all brands, the Volkswagen Group has delivered 2.3 million MEB-based EVs globally. In Q1 2025, Volkswagen secured a 26% market share in Europe’s electric vehicle segment, reaffirming its position as the continent’s EV leader.
