Porsche reopens production at former Karmann Osnabrück facility to keep up with demand

Basically since the beginning of Porsche production, it has been running overflow excess capacity through the facility in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony which was at one point a Karmann-owned plant. Certain models of 356 were produced there, including the uniquely styled notchback coupe. Many 911 and 912 coupes were produced there between 1966 and 1971, as well as every 914, and 11,803 Porsche 968 bodies in white. Porsche hasn’t used the facility since the mid-1990s, as it has been expanding its own facilities in Stuttgart and elsewhere to meet the growing Porsche demand around the world. Starting next year production of 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster models will push over into the multi-brand Volkswagen Group facility in Northwest Germany.

“The multi-brand plant in Osnabrück has already been a proven partner in our Porsche production network in the past,” says Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG. “Our colleagues were responsible for the overflow production of the Cayenne and the 718 Cayman. We are glad to be able to draw on these many years of experience and realize as many of our customers’ sports car dreams as possible.”

This isn’t the first time Porsche has outsourced production of its mid-engine entry-level sports car line. Way back in the late 1990s, when the 986 Boxster was still new, Porsche trusted the car to Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki, Finland. At the time the Boxster was Porsche’s biggest ever production run, and set all kinds of new sales records for the company. It maintained its top tier status until the Cayenne came along and crushed it, and then the Macan crushed that. While Boxster and Cayman demand has waxed and waned a bit over the last twenty five years, it seems that demand for the 718 models is increasing, and Porsche is forced to resort to opening another production line for the car. In addition to production delays, component shortages, and shipping issues, Porsche is way behind schedule on delivering new cars to customers, and it needs to get a little bit of a move on.

Porsche says its main plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen is still working at full production capacity to produce sports cars. Porsche also says it plans to have the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman fully electrified within three years. Within just eight years, Porsche says 80% of its cars will be full battery electric. That sounds incredible!