Porsche kicks off Macan production at revamped Leipzig plant

Sun, 16 Feb 2014

After over two years of construction and roughly 500 million euros ($684 million at current rates) invested, Porsche finally opened its Leipzig, Germany, factory expansion on February 11. The improvements to the plant are dedicated to building the Macan and include a new body shop, paint shop and assembly line that are advancing Porsche's goal to sell 50,000 Macan's per year. The company believes that the new model is going to push it to over 200,000 annual sales 3 years ahead of schedule, and the enlarged branch can support even more Macan production, if there is demand.

"We are totally convinced in the qualities of this location and that the Macan will be a marketing success," said Porsche Chairman Matthias Müller during the opening celebration. The company opened its Leipzig factory in 2002 to build the Cayenne and added Panamera production in 2009.

The Macan models are due to launch in the US this summer with prices starting at $49,900. Scroll down to learn all of the details about the Macan's Leipzig assembly plant.

PORSCHE CELEBRATES INAUGURATION OF ITS EXPANDED LEIPZIG PLANT

Atlanta/Leipzig. The drastically expanded Porsche plant in Leipzig officially opened today. Taking roughly two years from start to finish, the facilities now include a body shop and an ultra-modern paint shop in addition to the final assembly to accommodate the production of the new Porsche Macan with a capacity of 50,000 plus annually. The plant, which was designed to meet stringent environmental criteria, has been assembling the Cayenne and Panamera models of Porsche for the past 10 years. Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG stated, "The fact that Porsche has invested half a billion Euro in the Leipzig plant in addition to the original 250 million Euro, thus creating 1,500 new jobs, makes one thing clear: We are totally convinced in the qualities of this location and that the Macan will be a marketing success."

Porsche's fifth model line, the new Macan S and Macan Turbo, will arrive at U.S. dealers this summer and will become true sports cars in the rapidly growing segment of compact SUVs. The Macan S is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 340 hp and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. The 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 in the Macan Turbo produces 400 hp and makes the car sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.

By Chris Bruce