Beijing (ZXZC)- The construction of Volkswagen (Anhui)’s MEB factory is declared half-finished, with estimated production starting in the second half of 2023, according to the CEO of the joint venture, Dr. Erwin Gabardi.

Photo credit: Volkswagen (Anhui)

The construction involved the reconstruction and expansion of the former JAC Group workshop and a new body shop. The project is expected to be finished in mid-2022.

The said MEB factory is located in Hefei, Anhui Province, taking up 500,000 square meters, and is the auto group’s third battery-electric vehicle manufacturing plant in China, after SAIC VW’s Shanghai plant and FAW VW’s Foshan plant.

Photo credit: Volkswagen (Anhui)

According to the company’s early plans, the equipment installation process in the body and assembly shops will begin in early 2022. The pre-mass-production vehicles are planned to roll off line during the second half of 2022, with production starting in 2023.

By 2026, Volkswagen (Anhui) will launch pure-electric vehicles built on the connected SSP expandable system platform.

In the meantime, the joint venture is conducting talent reserve and plans to recruit 500 employees by 2025, specializing in the R&D and production aspects.

The German company once stated that it planned to sell roughly 19 million MEB-platform-based battery-electric vehicles by 2030, with China being its primary market. The latest technologies will also branch out from China to the rest of the world.

Notably, Volkswagen has also partnered with Hefei-based battery player Gotion to promote battery cell production in Germany. The estimated manufacturing date is 2025.

Volkswagen (Anhui), the joint venture established by Volkswagen Group and JAC Automobile Group on December 22, 2017, was formerly known as JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. The name change occurred after Volkswagen Group increased its stake in the company to 75% and took over management control at Volkswagen Anhui. The venture is the Group’s first dedicated NEV joint venture in China.