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1955 Start of construction - Hannover factory
Since 1950, the Model 2 had been constantly present. In the meantime, some 100.000 of them, it could also be had as a dropside transporter and at that time particularly in demand, as a Samba-bus with skylights. In
the Wolfsburg factory, although in the meantime freed of war damages and despite its size, there was simply not enough space for two successful models. Logically, a new factory was then planned, more than 200
locations applied for the factory to be built there.
Hannover of course, has the particular advantage of lying close by to the Leine canal and to the largest marshalling yard in Germany. Even though the winter of 1954/55 was exceptionally cold and had heavy snow, the
work was started. In spring there were already 1.000 workers on the gigantic construction site and at the beginning of summer there were 2.000. All in all, 1,75 million cubic meters of earth were moved and every day
5.000 cubic meters of concrete were mixed and poured.
In the meantime, the VW-Beetle (Model 1) had reached the figure of 1 million, the VW Bulli, as it was known outside of the factory, had somewhat earlier, reached the 100.000 mark. Wolfsburg already trained the newly
employed workers, a further advantage for the nearby location. In March 1956, after the construction time of a good year, the production was started.
Indeed, the factory would grow further and only in 1967, did the T2 appear. At this point the transporter had also long overshot the one million mark. 60 years after the beginning of the building constructions, they
had arrived at the T5 and a total of around 11 million. From the original 3.000 employees and despite rationalisation, the work-force was now 12.000, in addition, there was now also a factory in Poznan, Poland, for the
assembly of the transporters. A further factory for the Crafter in Wrzesnia, also in Poland, is under construction.
The German factories, because of the high wages, showed the highest level of automation. Hannover was additionally distinguished for having a particularly low energy consumption. With their environmental program
'Think Blue Factory', in the last year they used approx. 200.000 MWh less than they used ten years ago. On the one hand, the mild winter must be taken into consideration and on the other hand, also the increased
production.
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