Common perception has it that all Porsches are manufactured in Germany. Yet the first- and second-generation of the Boxster roadster were assembled in Finland by Valmet, as was the Boxster-based Cayman coupe.
In 2011, Porsche terminated this deal and transferred production to Germany. Initially, the Boxster was manufactured at the carmaker’s main plant in Zuffenhausen alongside the 911.
The factory’s capacity, though, is not enough to satisfy demand and the Leipzig plant is already full with the Cayenne, Panamera and in due time, the Macan compact SUV, so parent company VW decided to partially produce the Boxster at its Osnabrück plant.
The first car that rolled off the Osnabrück assembly line today was an “Indian Red” Boxster S with black roof destined for a client in Bavaria.
Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of VW, commented: “The production of the Porsche Boxster in Osnabrück is a clear sign that Volkswagen and Porsche are growing together. It creates synergy effects that will benefit customers, employees and the plant.”
Porsche boss Matthias Müller is confident that the cars that will roll off the VW plant will be identical to those assembled in Stuttgart: “The key factor in this decision was the very good expertise of the workforce at Volkswagen Osnabrück. Our sports cars are in the best hands here. After all, we all have the same understanding of quality. Osnabrück will become part of our success story.”
The Osnabrück facility’s workforce counts more than 1,800 employees; its maximum annual capacity is 100,000 units and it assembles the Golf Cabriolet.
The Lower Saxony factory already provided the rear and side components for the third-generation Boxster. Moreover, the latter is not the first Porsche ever to be assembled in this plant: in the past, Osnabrück has also produced the 914 (1969-1976) and the 968 (1991-1994).
By Andrew Tsaousis
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