AutoEuropa
Encyclopedia
AutoEuropa - Automóveis Lda. is a motor vehicle
assembly plant, located in the city of Palmela
, Portugal
.
and Ford in July 1991, the 2million sqm plant was built in four years, including a surrounding industrial park on which key suppliers are located.
Opened as a 50/50 joint-venture, its initial purpose was to assemble a communal-designed MPV model sold under three marques: Volkswagen Sharan
, SEAT Alhambra
, and Ford Galaxy
. Producing these vehicles, Autoeuropa almost reached its production limit of 172,500 units per year.
However, when Ford left the joint-venture and the model life-cycle approached its end, Volkswagen took ownership of the plant and resultantly production declined considerably. Under Volkswagen's internal bidding system, the plant had to compete for new models with other Volkswagen plants, while threatening to close the plant and to give concessions to the workers and the State.
Eventually, Autoeuropa won the production of the new model Volkswagen Eos
from late 2005, producing just 79,896 vehicles of the original models plus the Eos. In 2008 the plant started production of the third generation variant of the Volkswagen Scirocco
, and presently employs 3000 people on site, 2350 supplier jobs on the industrial park, and an additional 3750 supplier jobs within Portugal.
Internal sources say AutoEuropa is to take up production of the Volkswagen Polo
by latest November 2010 as a 2011 showroom model, a sub-compact sold everywhere but the US and Canada, but soon to fully enter the North American market by late 2012. The factory management are also bidding for production of the new Volkswagen BlueSport roadster.
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
assembly plant, located in the city of Palmela
Palmela
Palmela is a town and a municipality in Portugal with a total area of and a total population of 58,222 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 5 parishes, and is located in Setúbal District, about south of Lisbon.The municipal holiday is June 1....
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Foundation
After signature of a joint venture agreement between Volkswagen GroupVolkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
and Ford in July 1991, the 2million sqm plant was built in four years, including a surrounding industrial park on which key suppliers are located.
Opened as a 50/50 joint-venture, its initial purpose was to assemble a communal-designed MPV model sold under three marques: Volkswagen Sharan
Volkswagen Sharan
The Volkswagen Sharan is a large MPV produced by the German automaker Volkswagen since 1995.-First generation :The name Sharan is derived from a Persian word meaning "Carrier of Kings"....
, SEAT Alhambra
SEAT Alhambra
The SEAT Alhambra is a large 7-seat MPV by the Volkswagen Group, sold under the SEAT brand.The Alhambra already spans two generations since 1996, and both of them are built at the AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal...
, and Ford Galaxy
Ford Galaxy
The first Galaxy was designed as a joint venture product between Ford and the Volkswagen Group. Produced at the joint-venture AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, the vehicle was badge-engineered to create three vehicles: the Ford Galaxy; by Volkswagen Passenger Cars as the Volkswagen Sharan;...
. Producing these vehicles, Autoeuropa almost reached its production limit of 172,500 units per year.
However, when Ford left the joint-venture and the model life-cycle approached its end, Volkswagen took ownership of the plant and resultantly production declined considerably. Under Volkswagen's internal bidding system, the plant had to compete for new models with other Volkswagen plants, while threatening to close the plant and to give concessions to the workers and the State.
Eventually, Autoeuropa won the production of the new model Volkswagen Eos
Volkswagen Eos
The Volkswagen Eos is a four-seat retractable hardtop coupe convertible, introduced in 2006 as the successor to the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet. The Eos is Volkswagen's first production coupe since the last Corrado in 1995....
from late 2005, producing just 79,896 vehicles of the original models plus the Eos. In 2008 the plant started production of the third generation variant of the Volkswagen Scirocco
Volkswagen Scirocco
The Scirocco is a 3-door Coupe manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, undergoing two generations of development between 1974 and 1992 and reintroduced in a third generation in August 2008.-Etymology:...
, and presently employs 3000 people on site, 2350 supplier jobs on the industrial park, and an additional 3750 supplier jobs within Portugal.
Production
| Year | Total | Volkswagen Eos Volkswagen Eos The Volkswagen Eos is a four-seat retractable hardtop coupe convertible, introduced in 2006 as the successor to the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet. The Eos is Volkswagen's first production coupe since the last Corrado in 1995.... |
Volkswagen Scirocco Volkswagen Scirocco The Scirocco is a 3-door Coupe manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, undergoing two generations of development between 1974 and 1992 and reintroduced in a third generation in August 2008.-Etymology:... |
Volkswagen Sharan Volkswagen Sharan The Volkswagen Sharan is a large MPV produced by the German automaker Volkswagen since 1995.-First generation :The name Sharan is derived from a Persian word meaning "Carrier of Kings".... /SEAT Alhambra SEAT Alhambra The SEAT Alhambra is a large 7-seat MPV by the Volkswagen Group, sold under the SEAT brand.The Alhambra already spans two generations since 1996, and both of them are built at the AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 93.609 | 55.560 | - | 38.049 |
| 2008 | 94.100 | 43.534 | 20.472 | 29.897 |
Future
As the existing models come to the end of their life cycles, the plant will need to compete for new models from 2010 onwards. It was proposed that in 2009 the production line will be prepared for the replacement, although the economic crisis will delay that model.Internal sources say AutoEuropa is to take up production of the Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car manufactured by Volkswagen. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, coupé and estate variants....
by latest November 2010 as a 2011 showroom model, a sub-compact sold everywhere but the US and Canada, but soon to fully enter the North American market by late 2012. The factory management are also bidding for production of the new Volkswagen BlueSport roadster.