The Volkswagen Group cut the ribbon on a new engine plant in Silao in Guanajuato, a central Mexican state on Tuesday, January 15th. The opening of this particular factory just so happened to make a new milestone for the German automaker as the Silao facility is the group’s 100th worldwide plant.
To recognize this special day the President of Mexico Enrique Pena, the Governor of the state of Guanajuato Miguel Marquez, and the VW group chief executive Martin Winterkorn attended the inauguration ceremony.
Engine production in Silao will supply the North American vehicle plants in Puebla, Mexico, and Chattanooga, USA, with the latest generation of TSI turbocharged gasoline engines, including the EA 888 family, a version of which (1.8-liter with 247hp) is featured in the VW Passat Performance Concept that is being displayed at the Detroit Motor Show. According to Volkswagen, the $550 million plant will directly employ more than 700 new workers with further jobs to be created at supplies and in the service sector, and has been designed for a medium-term annual capacity of 330,000 engines.
“The Silao factory is the Volkswagen Group’s 100th plant and therefore represents one of the largest and most international production networks in the automotive industry,” stated Winterkorn. “With this new plant we are driving our ambitious major North American offensive forward. Over the next three years the Volkswagen Group will be investing more than $5 billion in North America alone. Silao is thus also a strong symbol of our uninterrupted growth trajectory and the Group’s continuing internationalization.”