Volkswagen starts construction of new body shop

Volkswagen Slovakia representatives, along with officials of Bratislava region (BSK), laid the foundation stone of the Bratislava-based plant's new body shop on Tuesday, TASR learnt on the same day. Volkswagen Slovakia board chairman Albrecht Reimold said that the facility, worth €500 million, will make use of the most advanced technologies in the auto industry in producing Porsche Cayenne auto bodies. The new body plant will cover 35,700 square metres and will require the demolition of an old logistics hall. Some 3,200 tonnes of steel will be used in the erecting of the new facility. Before the end of this year the shell of the building should be completed, and the technologies installed in 2016. The new body shop - with 200 employees per shift and 500 robots - is to launch operations in 2017. Volkswagen Slovakia has churned out over 4 million cars since 1991. With over 9,900 employees, it ranks among Slovakia's largest employers, as well as exporters and investors. It also has facilities in Martin (Žilina region) and Košice.