Volkswagen factory just reopened

The world's largest carmaker has made 100 changes to the way its plants operate as it tries to restart business without risking the health of hundreds of thousands of workers. Its experience underscores the daunting task ahead for manufacturers as they resume work in a world still reeling from the pandemic.

"We have never developed, produced and sold vehicles under these conditions before," said Bernd Osterloh, the top labor representative at Volkswagen (VLKAF).

The gigantic Wolfsburg plant is located on the banks of an equally impressive feat of human engineering, the 200-mile long Mittelland Canal connecting sea and inland ports in Europe. Originally built in 1938 to house workers for Volkswagen's factories, Wolfsburg is still home to the group's headquarters and has produced more than 45 million cars since 1945.

It's where the iconic Beetle was produced for more than three decades and where the automaker's bestselling models, the VW Golf series and the Tiguan, are made today.

Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant by the numbers

The gigantic plant reopens Monday after a five-week shutdown.

• The Wolfsburg plant takes up 70 million square feet

• Houses 63,000 workers

• Produces 3,500 cars a day

• 2,100 trucks and railcars enter the plant with 21,000 parts daily

• More than 45 million vehicles have been manufactured at the plant since 1945

• The plant is connected by 47 miles of road and 37 miles of railway tracks

Full article: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/27/business/volkswagen-restart-production-wolfsburg/index.html

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