2001-2005

With the arrival of the new millennium, change comes to Volkswagen Slovakia, permanently modifying the face of the plants in Bratislava and Martin.

Start of SUV manufacturing

The Bratislava plant awaits the largest investment project in its history: the manufacturing of Volkswagen Touareg SUVs and bodies for Porsche Cayennes. This exclusive manufacturing starts on 20th July 2002. For the purposes of this production, a brand-new assembly hall and body shop is built.

Little Venice in Bratislava

To facilitate the manufacturing of SUVs, a cable car is built at the Bratislava plant specifically to transport vehicles from the assembly hall to the test track. It is the only automotive plant in the world with an external cable car. Because vehicles are transported by a so-called gondola, it is nicknamed Little Venice.

The manufacturing portfolio is expanded by another brand

In January 2003, mass production of another model, the SEAT Ibiza, starts in the Bratislava plant. The manufacturing plant in Devínska Nova Ves now produces vehicles for three brands: Volkswagen, Porsche and SEAT.

An incredible million

The 1,000,000th manufacturing mark of vehicles produced by Volkswagen Slovakia is exceeded on 28 May 2003, making it the largest car manufacturer in Slovak history.

Statistics report 1,500,000

Less than two years after achieving its one million manufacturing jubilee, the 1,500,000th vehicle leaves the Volkswagen Slovakia Bratislava plant line on 29 April 2005, a Volkswagen Touareg.

A new brand, a new SUV

In November 2005, a new model, the Audi Q7, is added to the portfolio of the Bratislava plant of VW SK. This premium brand vehicle complements the duo of hi-tech cars, the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne. The Audi Q7 is produced exclusively in Bratislava for customers around the world.