At its Mosel and Chemnitz locations, Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH can call upon the experience gained in a century-old tradition of automotive engineering in the Chemnitz-Zwickau economic region. Here, where Horch, Audi, DKW and Wanderer automobiles once rolled off the assembly lines - and a spot once home to the East German Trabant as well - around 1,000 VW Golf and Passat are now produced each day. 6,200 employees currently work in vehicle production at the Mosel location. In addition to the Golf and Passat, the Mosel plant also manufactures bodies for the Phaeton and Bentley Continental series on behalf of the Transparent Factory in Dresden.
Energy, a priceless resource
For Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH, energy in the form of gas and electricity takes on a critical role. Searching for new ways to save energy is a continuing task, not only for ecological reasons but out of economic necessity as well. In contrast to the past, the plant's energy costs have become a significant location factor.
Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH continues to work on resource optimisation. This essentially takes place through two means. First, the environmental management system which has been introduced provides one path towards continuous improvement in the use of resources. In addition, the plant has developed and implemented an energy-savings scheme. Projects include reduction of the combustion chamber temperature in the thermal afterburning installations by 30 degrees and sequence-controlled disconnection of ventilation systems.
Horch Museum
The Zwickau location has another regional attraction to entice car enthusiasts. In September 2004, Audi AG and the city of Zwickau opened the doors of the August Horch Museum. Visitors can view over 70 rare automobiles in the museum, housed in the former Audi plant. All of the vehicles on display were manufactured in Zwickau. On display are Horch, Audi, Wanderer, DKW, Trabant and Volkswagen automobiles. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the Horch Phaeton of 1911, of which only one exists.
Joint Environmental Statement 2008 Plants Zwickau and Chemnitz (1.6 MB)
