Volvo has begun assembling complete cars at its new factory near Kosice, eastern Slovakia, although they are not yet destined for customers.
The vehicles are part of test production ahead of series manufacturing starting in 2027. Testing had already begun in some sections of the plant and expanded to final assembly on September 21, meaning cars were now going through the entire production process.
“Nobody wants to buy a bad car,” plant director Marc Gombeer said. “That is why we make a lot of test vehicles, so we can be 100% sure that what we produce is of perfect quality.”
Regional newspaper Korzar reported that the completed cars would be used for testing, research and development.
The plant’s first shift began on September 21 at 6:20 and ended at 14:50.
Volvo has also reached 1,000 employees at the plant, more than 95% of them Slovaks.
Another 300 people are due to be recruited until the end of 2026. The workforce could reach around 2,000 next year and eventually 3,300.
New public transport services have been introduced for workers travelling to the Valaliky industrial park, just south of Kosice. State passenger rail operator ZSSK has added two pairs of trains between Kosice and Cana, while four new city bus routes, V1 to V4, serve the industrial park.
Series production is due to begin around the turn of 2026 and 2027.
Until summer 2027, one eight-hour shift should be making about 350 cars a day, Gombeer previously said that would amount to roughly 80,000 cars a year.
The Kosice factory is designed to produce up to 250,000 cars a year. Volvo plans to run three shifts and produce 45 cars an hour. If the current timetable holds, that could happen in 2029.
Actual production will depend on demand.
Volvo has not disclosed the main model it will produce at the plant. It has said it will be an electric SUV.
All cars made in Kosice are to be fully electric. The factory will also make electric cars for Polestar, although these are expected to account for a smaller part of production.
The government agreed in 2022 to provide EUR 267 million in investment aid for the project. Volvo committed to investing about EUR 1.2 billion and creating 3,300 jobs. (The Slovak Spectator)