Volkswagen, a major player in the electric vehicle market, has decided to halt the production of its ID.3 model at the main plant in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, citing persistently low demand. The ID.3, which was set to begin assembly at the main plant this summer, will now be exclusively produced in Saxony.
A Volkswagen spokesperson confirmed this development on Friday, stating, “The ID.3 assembly, planned for the main plant, has been canceled.” This decision aligns with the company’s strategy to consolidate production at its Zwickau facility and make efficient use of its fully equipped site.
Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management for Production at Volkswagen, emphasized the importance of cost savings, stating, “At the end of the day, every euro that we don’t have to spend counts.” He further explained the rationale behind the decision in an interview, highlighting the need to maximize resources.
This move comes after Volkswagen faced a decline in demand, leading to the cancellation of shifts at its EV-only site in Saxony in late 2023. Last year, Volkswagen delivered a total of 140,800 ID.3 cars. Vollmer expressed optimism about the decision, stating that canceling additional production in Wolfsburg was good news for Zwickau.
Despite the shift, the existing ID.3 assembly line in Dresden will remain operational, producing the car in small numbers. Initially, Volkswagen had planned to introduce the refreshed “new ID.3” in spring 2023, with production scheduled not only in Zwickau and Dresden but also at the main plant in Wolfsburg. However, due to the current market conditions, the company has decided to streamline production to adapt to the changing landscape of the EV market.
