Ready for the ID. BUZZ: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ e-breakthrough
Over the summer, modernisation work was carried out at the Hanover plant, where the new zero-emissions van will be built from 2022.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles traditionally utilises the summer holiday period to upgrade its Hanover plant and carry out maintenance of the production lines.
The focus this year was on the production facilities for the future Bulli family models – the successors to the current Multivan (as of 2021) and the ID. BUZZ (as of 2022).
The work being carried out at Hanover is part of the strategy of automating and digitalising production. This involves a complete remodelling of the production facility so that, in addition to the T 6.1 models, the two vehicles mentioned above can be built.
This very clear change of direction points towards an electric future. Volkswagen’s current “e” model range includes the e-Crafter; this will shortly be boosted by the new Multivan, in a hybrid version for the first time, and the all-electric ID. BUZZ, based on the MEB platform, with its concept vehicle recalling the iconic
Maintenance and modernisation
The work was undertaken over the three-week break in production at the plant and during one further week when production levels were reduced.
In this period, over 500 individual measures relating to the maintenance and modernisation of the production facility were implemented, with the core focus on integrating the new models into the production process.
Targeted measures
The measures included the disassembly of Amarok machinery in the areas where the ID. BUZZ production line will be set up, affecting a total area of around 34,000 square metres, as well as the construction and commissioning of machinery for the new Multivan in the body shop, paint shop and T production assembly facility.
In addition, an old press line in the press shop was disassembled: the resulting increase in energy efficiency will lead to a reduction in CO2 of around 4,200 tonnes a year. Conveyor equipment inside the paint shop was also optimised for the introduction of processes linked to the new Multivan, and adaptations and alterations made to the assembly facility as a prerequisite for integrating the ID. BUZZ.
Another highlight was the construction of a new bi-colour painting facility for current T family models and the new models that will be built at the Hanover plant.
From 2021 onwards, some production lines will be producing both the T 6.1 and its successors simultaneously. This will require two different assembly operations to be integrated and, over the past few weeks, a number of projects related to this were also completed.
Source: Volkswagen Newsroom