Volkswagen is investing 21 million euros in upskilling its workforce as it moves to become a leading supplier for sustainable mobility solutions.
Autonomous driving, electric vehicles, new business models and a highly skilled workforce are included in the transformation drive under Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ (VWCV) ‘Grip 2030’ strategy.
The brand’s strategic objectives and VWCV’s Hannover plant’s future focus were discussed at the site by Volkswagen AG management board chair Herbert Diess, VW brand chief executive Thomas Schäfer, group works council chair Daniela Cavallo, VWCV brand management board chair Carsten Intra, and others.
VWCV aims to increase the electric proportion of its fleet to more than 55% by the end of the decade.
“We’ve laid the foundations for that this year with the start of production of the ID. Buzz,” says Intra. “We are further gearing up the production operation to the manufacture of electric vehicles and are training up the workforce for the future tasks in a highly automated, digital factory.”
Intra says VWCV now has some areas in the Hannover factory where 93% of the tasks are done by robots, adding a modern factory calls for employees to have new skills too.
Schafer says that with the electrification of the portfolio and with the Centre of Excellence for Autonomous Driving, the team led by Carsten Intra is addressing the right issues.
“The ID. Buzz is a brand-shaper for Volkswagen and is generating enthusiastic reactions all over the world,” he says.
“With over 10,000 advance sales, the order books are well-filled, and production is now being ramped up further.”
During the VWCV Site Symposium, production department staff presented modern technologies in the production facility. Hendrik Volksmann, a body shop machine operator, demonstrated use of a smart watch to get important information about the plant and machinery, thus able to promptly identify and remedy any issues.
Particular focus was placed on changes since the last symposium at the site in 2019, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, and the successful start-ups of the new Multivan and ID. Buzz.
These included increased production efficiency as a result of an automatic stacking system in the press shop where a new plate-cutting system has been commissioned, digitalisation and automation in the new body shop buildings, a modernised assembly facility with new line sections for electrical features and with improved ergonomics, construction of a new logistics centre (16,000 square metres) and a bridge linking it to the production facility, commissioning of an XXL lift for self-driving transporter trains up to 20 metres long and able to carry up to 45 tonnes, and a start on a new vehicle production hall.
