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Volkswagen’s Hanover plant celebrates 70th anniversary
The Volkswagen manufacturing plant in Hanover turns 70 as the company confirms the eleven millionth vehicle will roll off its production line in early 2026
Words by: Tom Roberts
Published on 9 March 2026 | 0 min read
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is celebrating 70 years of manufacturing at the Hanover plant. On the 8th March 1956, the legendary T1 Transporter started rolling off the plant's production line and it's now where the ID. Buzz, Multivan, and Multivan-based California vehicles are built. Notably, in 2027 the team in Hanover will begin full production of the ID. Buzz AD with pre-production manufacturing of the fully autonomous vehicle already underway.
Stefan Mecha, Chair of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “The Hanover plant is a key location for our transformation. Here, we produce the Multivan with efficient diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, alongside the all-electric ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo. Vehicles built in Hanover have long set benchmarks in their segment and are a hallmark of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand. Today, we are laying the foundation for climate friendly mobility in the future.”
Stefan Mecha, Chair of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “The Hanover plant is a key location for our transformation. Here, we produce the Multivan with efficient diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, alongside the all-electric ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo. Vehicles built in Hanover have long set benchmarks in their segment and are a hallmark of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand. Today, we are laying the foundation for climate friendly mobility in the future.”
From T1 to modern California
It’s fitting that the Hanover plant’s 70 years of service began to solve the (better class of) problem of the company’s T1 Transporter van being too popular for production to keep up with demand! T1 was initially built alongside the Beetle in Wolfsburg, but with demand too high Heinrich Nordhoff, then Managing Director of Volkswagenwerk AG, decided to build a separate plant in Hanover. The facility was built in just one year with the first T1 rolling off the production line on 8th March 1956.
Over the years, seven generations of the VW Bus have been built at the Hanover plant. After the first generation of the T1, its successors – T2 to T6.1 – were also built there. The seventh generation of the iconic product line is now focused on three vehicles: ID. Buzz, Multivan and Transporter/Caravelle. The Multivan also forms the basis for the latest generation of California campervans, the manufacturing of which is being permanently moved to Hanover this year.
Over the years, seven generations of the VW Bus have been built at the Hanover plant. After the first generation of the T1, its successors – T2 to T6.1 – were also built there. The seventh generation of the iconic product line is now focused on three vehicles: ID. Buzz, Multivan and Transporter/Caravelle. The Multivan also forms the basis for the latest generation of California campervans, the manufacturing of which is being permanently moved to Hanover this year.
People make the difference
The company is keen to draw attention to the role its people play in Volkswagen’s manufacturing success story. Around 13,000 people currently work for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand and Volkswagen Group Components at the Hanover site. Stavros Christidis, Chairman of the Works Council at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Hanover, commented that nearly eleven million vehicles have been built here over the past 70 years “by great people who bring the plant to life”. He said: “The Hanover plant is not just a factory – it is a community. A part of Hanover’s family history for tens of thousands of people. Every hall, every assembly line at this site tells stories of people who achieve extraordinary things and who stand together. This attitude is what defines Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.”
ID.Buzz Autonomous Driving already in pre-production
Pre-production of the fully autonomous ID. Buzz is already underway in Hanover. Through 2026, pre-production at the Hanover plant will be ramped up to around 500 vehicles, already planned for use in various projects in Europe and the USA. Full production will begin in 2027 with the hefty goal of 100,000 on the road by 2033.
The self-driving vehicles will pass through the same production sections of the factory as all non-autonomous ID. Buzz models, with an additional production loop being used for installation of specific components. These components include the combined roof module with cameras, radar and lidar units, and the computer on the front passenger side. The end of the process sees the vehicle undergo sensor calibration and final commissioning.
The self-driving vehicles will pass through the same production sections of the factory as all non-autonomous ID. Buzz models, with an additional production loop being used for installation of specific components. These components include the combined roof module with cameras, radar and lidar units, and the computer on the front passenger side. The end of the process sees the vehicle undergo sensor calibration and final commissioning.
Carbon-neutral production by 2040
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is working on the sustainable transformation of the Hanover plant and towards the goal of carbon-neutral production by 2040. The company is already well on its way according to Steffen Reiche, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Production and Logistics at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles who revealed that the Hanover plant relies exclusively on green electricity and a biomass fired combined heat and power plant. He added: “Our goal is climate neutral production at all locations by 2040 – including Hanover – while creating regional value, securing jobs and actively contributing to climate protection.”
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