Motor Industry

The motor industry has been a traditional strength in Chemnitz and the surrounding region for a long time. Legendary brands like Horch, Audi and Wanderer were all based here. Auto Union AG was founded here in 1932 and later the area was home to a large proportion of the East German motor industry. 460,000 cars are produced in the region every year now; six factories belonging to Porsche, BMW and Volkswagen are all located within a radius of 100 km.

Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH employs 7,100 members of staff and is the biggest employer with the largest company turnover in eastern Germany. 670,000 engines and 640,000 balancer transmissions are manufactured at VW's Chemnitz engine plant alone every year. Two thirds of the almost 760 Saxon car part suppliers are based in Chemnitz and its surrounding area - 90 companies in the motor and car parts industry produce a turnover of more than one billion euros per annum here.

Then there is also the unique potential in Chemnitz provided by very well qualified specialists and highly qualified engineers. Some 6,000 people are involved in some kind of relevant professional training; students at the Chemnitz University of Technology are studying engineering and 30 kilometres away in Zwickau students are learning about automotive engineering.

Saxon automobile companies are cooperating within the "AMZ Saxon Automotive Supplier Network" with the aim of linking existing expertise within strategic development fields and thereby guaranteeing their ability to innovate, produce and supply goods and work together across sector boundaries.