Volkswagen has cut production of the ID.3 and Cupra Born for the second time in as many months due to declining demand for the two models and EVs in general.
German media has revealed that the car manufacturer has cut production in Hall 5 at the Zwickau, Germany plant where the ID.3 and Born are built from three shifts to two shifts. While VW hasn’t said how many fewer ID.3s and Borns will be produced because of this cut, it asserts the move “ensures productive operation and the future viability of the site.”
The car manufacturer paused production of both the ID.3 and Born from October 2 to October 13 at the Zwickau factory and also paused production of the ID.3 at its Dresden site between October 2 and October 16. Last month, VW also temporarily halted production of the ID.4, ID.5, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron at Zwickau due to limited capacity, Auto News reports.
Read: VW ID.3 Battery Longevity Test Shows It Has 93% Capacity After 62,000 Miles
The Zwickau site has the capacity to build 360,000 vehicles annually but only built 218,000 vehicles in 2022. Last month, the brand said it would not be able to go through with plans to offer 269 permanent contracts to temporary workers, asserting that it had been negatively impacted by tough market conditions, a reduction in demand for EVs, and increased competition from Chinese-made EVs.
Some industry experts expect lean demand for German-made EVs over the coming two years. IG Metall Zwickau trade union representative Thomas Knabel says the union is determining what is best for its workers.
“The aim now is to reach the best possible arrangement,” Knabel told Automobilwoche. “The concern remains as to where the journey will take us.”
