Uitenhage (South Africa)
The Uitenhage Volkswagen plant - the region's largest employer - has around 5,600 employees, who produce vehicles as well as components for the entire Group. With its Uitenhage location, Volkswagen is one of the pioneers in vehicle exports from South Africa; the number of cars now exported each year has reached 40,000 and total production is 100,000 vehicles, with plans to increase both figures.
Environmentally friendly paintshop
The largest project at present is construction of a new paintshop, which will have the latest application systems, environmental controls and energy reclamation systems available. In comparison to the old paintshop, emissions will be reduced by 75 percent - a considerable drop indeed. Thanks to a specially developed process, the quantity of solvents used will be vastly reduced from the current eight litres to just two litres per vehicle. The amount of waste will be reduced as well. Start-up is planned for 2007.
In future, new paints - so-called ECO paints - will be used as well at the Uitenhage site. To replace conventional paints, Volkswagen will be using a new paint which has been classified as highly environmentally friendly and which will reduce the chance of accidents on the job.
Regional responsibility - Creation of new jobs
Over the past two years, more than 1,000 jobs have been created in Uitenhage. At present, around 250 employees are being recruited in order to meet the increasing demand in the consumer market. Every year, Volkswagen of South Africa invests over 40 million rand in employee specialist development. Construction of a new assembly plant will create 400 additional jobs.
Glossary