Volkswagen output in Slovakia jumped 45% in the first half, the company’s local unit said.
Car production there is focused on sport utility vehicle (SUV) models and reached 94,600 units in the first six months of the year, with revenue jumping by 33.3% to EUR2.4bn (US$3.5bn).
Volkswagen was optimistic about the second half of the year, saying the launch of a new model [the Up – ed] would have a positive impact on output.
The company, which plans to invest EUR1bn in Slovakia in the coming five years to boost car and parts production, will add the new city car in the autumn.
The plant produces SUV models, the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7 and parts of the Porsche Cayenne.
Volkswagen Slovakia , one of the euro zone country’s key exporters, manufactured 144,510 vehicles last year, up from 106,000 in 2009, with revenue rising by 37.4% year-on-year to EUR4.04bn.
