Volkswagen is still in track to build 400,000 cars this year at its Slovak plant despite gloomy economic forecasts.

Following talks with Slovakia’s prime minister Iveta Radicova in Bratislava, VW Slovakia CEO Albrecht Reimold told Agence France Presse that, although the economic situation has changed, the carmaker is sticking to its plans.

VW said last month it planned to increase SUV output at its Slovak plant by 25% this year to meet rising demand for the Touareg, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne models.

It also launched production of its small Up family cars at the Slovak factory last year. The company exports nearly all of the cars produced in Slovakia with some 36% going to Germany and nearly 19% to China.

The carmaker employs 7,000 people at the plant, among the largest labour force in the country which suffers high unemployment of more than 13%.