VW Factory Dresden

Despite the fact that I have never owned a VW I most certainly have become quite a fan. Being immersed in VW for the last two months, from seeing Die Gläserne Manufaktur for the first time to the Goodbye Citi Tour.    

If you are keen to purchase a car that the Jones’s more than likely haven’t got then head over to Dresden an 800 year old city in Germany. Dresden is home to the unique Transparent Factory. This production plant opened in 2002 for the assembly of Volkswagen's luxury sedan, the Phaeton.

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This facility was built, not only to make cars, but also to sell them. Prospective Phaeton purchasers can contact the reception desk of the factory ahead of time to arrange an appointment. A customer service representative will take you on a tour and assist in choosing colours and options for your Phaeton. An elaborate ceremony takes place when a person who ordered one of these cars comes to pick it up. All the completed cars are in a large glass storage silo which no other car shopping experience can match.

For the general public there are both guided and self-guided tours available almost every day. There are interactive exhibits, partially assembled Phaeton components and cutaway models. To top it off there is a W12 simulator which allows you to 'test drive' a W12 on the autobahn at any speed up to the full capability of the Phaeton.

Almost the entire factory’s walls are made from glass with the floors covered entirely in Canadian Maple. Overall the factory is very futuristic even by today’s standards. The production line moves on a conveyor belt through the factory and computers track and register each bolt and screw. The computers know when the car is ready to move to the next stage of production.

An amazing historical addition to this outstanding factory is a 1936 Horch open limo that was once owned by Ethiopia's Haile Selassie.

Getting the City of Dresden to agree to have the factory in the city centre was a difficult task. They expected congestion, noise and pollution. The factory is a very quiet place with all the parts coming in via tram. The VW cargo tram shares tracks with the city’s public transport vehicles, easing traffic fears. Robots are used to drive the containers with parts throughout the factory. With 60 000 magnets embedded in the floor it acts as a road map guiding the robots. You don’t need to be a petrolhead to enjoy a completely open factory with all kinds of futuristic features.

It’s not all business here, as a number of cultural events are hosted throughout the year, including concerts and opera performances. Even now at the end of 2009, The Glass Factory is still a phenomenal piece of architecture and technology.