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 600000 vehicles in Mexico alone. Now the Silao plant is bringing another 700 employees into the VW family. They are said to produce up to 330000 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 <b>…</b>
