The new Golf VIII rolls off the production line at the Wolfsburg plant for the first time

Wolfsburg. Golf has shaped the VW factory and the city of Wolfsburg for half a century. Production of the new VW Golf has now begun at the main factory. The first car of the eighth generation model, which has been modified technically and visually, rolled off the assembly line in Hall 12 on Friday, April 12. Almost 50 years to the day after the first Golf series rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg.

An average of 400,000 Golfs have been produced per year so far

“The Golf has been the cornerstone of the Volkswagen brand for half a century: affordable mobility for everyone at the highest technical level,” says VW brand boss Thomas Schäfer. This is also confirmed by the production figures at the Wolfsburg plant. Over the past five decades, the main factory has become the center of golf production in the world. Of the more than 37 million copies of the car that has left its mark on an entire generation that have been sold to date, more than half were made in Wolfsburg. On average, around 400,000 Golfs were built in Wolfsburg each year.

These include the classic Golf from all eight car generations as well as different gems such as the Golf Type and the Golf Car. “It has constantly evolved according to customer needs and has become the world’s bestseller – made in Wolfsburg. This is exactly what we are doing now with the latest evolution of the series,” says Schäfer. This included more efficiency, comfort, value and concept new operation.

A modified driving concept in the Golf VIII

The touch slider for temperature and volume control on the Golf VIII is now also featured following a product upgrade. Non-illuminated sliders already caused criticism in other models – the key word ID.3 before the product update. Also new is the use of ChatGPT in the Golf along with a new multi-function steering wheel and revised operating concept. “As a team, we have carefully prepared the start of production over the past few weeks and months. We are now looking forward to finally seeing the new Golf on the road soon,” says plant manager Rainer Fessel.

Around 20 million Golfs have rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg to date

The Golf’s importance to the Wolfsburg plant is also highlighted by comparisons with other models that have rolled off or are still rolling off the production line at the main plant. With nearly 20 million vehicles, the Golf is the most popular model on the site. Mende follows in second place with twelve million cars. The Beetle was produced in Wolfsburg from 1945 to 1975. So in one year both the Golf I and the Beetle rolled off the production line at the main factory.

In third place on the list is the Tiguan, a car that has become more important in recent years. Since production began in 2007, nearly 3.5 million Tiguan models have now left the factory. It has surpassed the Polo, which first rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg in 1975 and has sold more than three million units. Tiguan is now considered a global car. SUV can achieve success in all markets. Golf, on the other hand, is a model that has been successful and very popular in Europe. In Germany, the model was also in first place for new registrations in March.

“The relationship between Golf and the Wolfsburg plant is something unique: Wolfsburg is Golf – and Golf is Wolfsburg,” says Fessel. Just remember to change the name Wolfsburgs in Golfsburg for the market launch of the Golf V. Along with 30 Golfsburg signs at the entrances, there were countless Golfsburg souvenirs, from mugs to polo shirts to golf balls, sold mainly at the tourist information center at the train station .

More than 48 million cars have been built at the factory so far

The largest factory in the Volkswagen Group had another reason to celebrate this week. A few days before the start of production of the new Golf, the 48 millionth car came off the production line at the factory; No other car factory in the world has produced as many cars as in Wolfsburg. It almost goes without saying that the model of reference was also a Golf. The urano-grey car is already on its way to a customer in the UK.

“48 million is an amazing number that would never have been possible without a motivated and qualified workforce,” says Jürgen Mahnkopf, deputy chairman of the group’s executive board. “Every single car that has been built here in this area for the past 50 years has had passion and enthusiasm from our employees.”

PAZ