Palmela’s car manufacturing plant Autoeuropa is planning to break all records and produce 200,000 vehicles in 2018.
The plan involves the factory creating a third ‘shift’ and hiring more than double the floor staff it has now, says workers commission leader Fernando Sequeira – adding that steps are already in hand to introduce a six-day week from February 2018.
The development comes as a result of the additional manufacture of Volkswagen SUV (sports utility vehicle) the T-Roc, explains Correio da Manhã.
Indeed, the new model coming off Autoeuropa’s production line from August – with an official presentation to be made in September – has seen supply businesses also hiring extra staff, so it is proving a win situation all round.
Hiring will be taking place from May next year, says CM.
Right now, Autoeuropa has 650 workers. Expansion plans involve hiring another 750.
According to CM, winning candidates will be chosen from a field of 10,000 applicants.
Meantime, car production in Portugal grew by 10.7% last month, according to data released by automobile association ACAP – with 97% of vehicles “produced for export”.
Autoeuropa produces the Volkswagen Sharan (33.1% destined for Germany, 17.8% for China, and 11.1% for Austria), the Scirocco (48.2% going to the UK, 16% to Germany, 12.8% to Spain) and the Seat Alhambra (40.2% of which get shipped to Germany, 13.4% to UK and 11.1% to Austria).
