Volkswagen Opens Engine Plant in Silao, Central Mexico

Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto and Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn proudly opened VW's brand new plant in Central Mexico. VW's now 100th plant worldwide is located in Silao, near the city of León. For the automaker it's a double milestone. CEO Martin Winterkorn says "it's pure coincidence that the opening of our 100th plant here in Mexico just happens to fall on the exact same day VW began business in Mexico. So it's our 100th factory and the 49th anniversary of VW in Mexico."

Volkswagen employees proudly celebrated the historic launch of the new production line, the carmaker's 100th plant is the latest symbol of VW's success. It's also a clear signal for the future. VW wants to continue growing and it's counting on Mexico and the North American market. The idea is also to build cars in the countries where they're sold giving the brand a national identity in countries like Mexico, that's making a lot of people happy.

Last year VW built more than 600,000 vehicles in Mexico alone. Now the Silao plant is bringing another 700 employees into the VW family. They are said to produce up to 330,000 fuel efficient TSI motors a year. For president Peña Nieto the event was also a personal significance; he shared with Mr. Winterkorn some of his favorite VW memories: "when the Mexican president saw the Beetle he told me it reminded him of his youth, because he himself owned a Beetle as a young man. And when he saw the Passta he said "Mr. Winterkorn I got married in a black Passat like this one", so the president has very fond memories of VW.

VW & Mexico, a success story with a new chapter called Silao, and Audi isn't far behind, it's said to open its first Mexican plant in 2016.

Visit http://www.vw.com/ for the latest news from Volkswagen.

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[AnalogueKid2112]

Mexican-built Jetta owner here. 62,000 miles and nothing but brake pads and rotors needed.

[guiovanitorres1]

estupido peña 

[Marc S]

They just dont care at all. The vw faithful that want their GERMAN cars built in GERMANY are not going to put up with this. I had one mexican vw and it was a pos. I have a german built r32 now. Night and day difference in build quality. But what do they care, as long as theyre selling cars.

[jason davila]

no!

[tacoeatingzebra]

Having owned Mexican and German VWs, I don't think that there are any real quality differences. Actually my German built Golf has way more rattles than any other car I've owned. I still really like it though.

[Skullomania75]

Porque tenian que porner a EPN, Brozo estubiese Excelente!

[missparker535]

Jk.

[qwksix]

700 jobs , Oh yeah , not one of those American , build them there , keep them there, I wouldn't buy one . I buy made in the USA !!

[qwksix]

Nice , 700 jobs in Mexico , I'm sure no one in the U.S. needs a job .

[Redskin1040]

Buy American and make sure it's built here.

[chevyfreek6]

@ AngryOnionss

2016 is only 3 more years away.

Its not too far into the future.