VW Could Build New Passat In Slovakia Instead Of Turkey

The VW Group is looking to move Passat production from Emden, Germany, to eastern Europe. Until recently, Turkey looked like the likeliest candidate for a new factory, however, the automaker is now weary of the former’s military operations in Syria.

With the Emden facility soon to be converted into an EV-only site (by October 2022), VW needs to make a decision quickly. One solution, according to Automobilwoche, is to move Passat production to the carmaker’s Bratislava factory in Slovakia.

That site already builds the Touareg and the Audi Q7 SUVs, as well as the VW Up, Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo minicars – although minicar production is due to be phased out as the segment declines, in turn freeing capacity, reports Autonews Europe.

With VW supervisory board member Stephan Weil (Lower Saxony prime minister) opposing a move to Turkey, it appears likely that the German brand might have to do a 180 and come up with a new production site for the Passat – Lower Saxony is a 20% shareholder.

Previously, VW had picked Manisa, which is 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Izmir on Turkey’s western coast as a location to build both the Passat as well as the Skoda Superb, estimating an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles.

Also read: Turkey’s Erdogan Orders Officials To Start Driving VW Passats

Aside from Slovakia, other eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia are also hoping to land the next VW factory.

Also, rumor has it that VW has already decided to move some Skoda Karoq production to Bratislava, instead of a new plant in Turkey.