Following realization that Porsche’s current assembly plants in Zuffenhausen, near Stuttgart, and Leipzig are too small to meet their high demands, the company is now looking to start production from North America and China. The plan is aimed at hitting the predicted global sales of 200,000 units.
The company believes that building Porsches from North America or China wouldn’t break the tradition since earlier they had given the production of Boxster to Valmet contract manufacturers in Finland.
Porsche is also expected to open a customer centre in China and a test track in Shanghai close to a Formula One track. The company’s dealers in China would be increased from 35 to 85 and then possibly to 100.
It is expected that, during this year itself, Porsche would make a decision on whether to start production from North America or Asia. Porsche might start building their upcoming SUV Cajun in a Volkswagen factory in China.
Apparently the same factory builds the Audi Q5 (SUV). The previous Karmann factory in Osnabrueck, Germany – now acquired by VW – will be used to boost the production of Boxster and Cayman. VW will use the plant to manufacture Golf Cabriolet.
Porsche is merging with VW, making it VW group’s 10th brand along with the likes of Audi AG, Bentley, Bugatti , Lamborghini, Skoda etc. This happened after VW obtained 49.9% of Porsche Automobil Holding SE’s carmaking unit when Porsche last year failed in a bid to takeover VW.
