Mobility and Sustainability.

The engine plant in São Carlos has a production capacity of up to 2,390 engines per day. The plant, inaugurated in 1996, has around 550 employees. Two assembly lines are used to construct such products as the 1.6-litre engine for the Fox, Polo and Golf Volkswagen models as well as for the Audi A3. The 1.9-litre diesel engine is for export. Most engines produced in São Carlos are tested in a cold state. In contrast to conventional hot tests, neither exhaust gas nor noise occurs during this type of testing. In addition, emissions from production and engine tuning tests are treated by means of exhaust air purification systems.

Environmental management
The São Carlos location - the first Volkswagen plant outside of Europe - has had an environmental management system certified in accordance with ISO 14001 since 1997. In 2005, expanded certification in accordance with ISO 14001:2004 took place. Here, too, São Carlos was the first plant to meet the requirements of the updated standard. Certification has significantly increased employee awareness of the environment. For instance, partnerships with local authorities have resulted, whose purpose is to implement environmental programmes in schools.

Protection of resources
São Carlos is continuously searching for new ways to reduce its water and power consumption. An industrial sewage treatment system is used to save water; UV light and catalytic converters are used instead of the conventional process, which uses chemicals instead. The new system improves water quality and shelf life, so that it may be used to cool machines and installations; neither does it have to be replaced as often. Energy-saving measures include replacing street and floor lamps and dividing the lighting system into individually-controlled sections throughout the shop floors. In combination with other process optimisations, power consumption per engine has thus been reduced from 42.89 kWh in 2003 to 34.20 kWh in 2004.

Parque Ecológico
Together with the Parque Ecológico de São Carlos, the plant has established a project with lasting development in mind. The Parque Ecológico assures a habitat for wild animals, in particular those of the Brazilian Cerrado steppe, and is the largest zoo of its kind in the state of São Paulo. It extends over a 60-hectare area, and was developed with open-air enclosures in accordance with the latest insights regarding the design of zoos.