Porsche Club News 4/07 1. News from Porsche AG Topping-out ceremony Leipzig looks back on an “unmitigated success story” zig and make the associated invest- ments in the plant is a very significant one for the region, creating 600 new jobs. “We are proud of the fact that the Executive Board has shown this much faith in us”, said Bülow, who has recently switched from the Advisory Board at Porsche Leipzig GmbH to being Chair- man. Macht emphasises that there had “not been a second’s regret over the de- cision to locate in Leipzig”. The decision to build a new plant in Leipzig in 1999 marked the beginning of what Macht cal- led an “unmitigated success story”. As well as the new production site, a 23,500 square metre logistics centre is The first Panamera is due to roll off the production lines in Leipzig in 2009. also being built. The existing Cayenne “This fourth series will catapult Porsche into a new dimension,” said Sieg- assembly plant is being extended with a fried Bülow, Chairman of Porsche Leipzig GmbH at the topping-out cere- pilot and analysis centre and a training mony for the new production shop. workshop. A new addition will be the so- called decoupling module. This is where the delivered car bodies will be tempora- They’ve really got it nailed in Leipzig. Mi- seat Gran Turismo Panamera. The new- rily stored. Porsche is investing a total chael Macht and Siegfried Bülow had est addition to the Porsche family will be of 150 million Euro. “No-one doubts that plenty to do at the topping-out cere- produced in the new 25,000 square me- the money is being invested wisely here mony. In a hammering competition in tre production shop from 2009. The de- in Leipzig”, said Macht. Thanks to a so- front of 300 guests in the marquee, the cision to produce the Panamera in Leip- phisticated production concept, Porsche Porsche Production Director and the Chairman of Porsche Leipzig GmbH con- Powerful dignitaries at the topping-out ceremony: fidently reached for the thickest nails. Wolfgang Tiefensee, Georg Milbradt, Burkhard Jung, Michael Macht and Along with the guests of honour, they Siegfried Bülow (left to right) drive thick nails into the wood had some powerful arguments to demon- strate the commitment that the com- pany has put into expanding its activities in Leipzig. Macht and Bülow won the com- petition against high-ranking representa- tives from the political scene. Despite this, German Minister of Transport Wolf- gang Tiefensee, Saxony’s Prime Minister Georg Milbradt and the Mayor of Leipzig Burkhard Jung all enjoyed their visit. This little “do-it-yourself” interlude mar- ked the end of the official part of a top- ping-out ceremony that generated a great deal of anticipation for the four- 6 Porsche Club News 4/07 Porsche Leipzig GmbH in figures Trainee workshop Site area: Decoupling module New cafeteria and locker rooms Currently around 300 hectares Logistics center Number of employees: 400 Panamera assembly facility Cayenne production area: Pilot and analysis center 18,600 square metres (covered) Management and administration area: 3,200squaremetres Running-in and test track length: This overview shows the future face of the Porsche Leipzig plant, 3.75 kilometres complete with the new buildings Off-road course length: is now able to produce premium vehi- was a turning point for this region”, the 6 kilometres cles in relatively small units at a competi- Mayor recalled.“We will never forget what tive price. The Leipzig plant is a perfect Porsche has done for us.” Georg Milbradt Environmental protection: example of Porsche’s successful busi- emphasised that Porsche is once again Certified to DIN ISO 14001 ness model. investing in the economy of Saxony with (since June 2002) its own financial resources – there have This project will give Germany a boost been no state subsidies. Cayenne production in 2005⁄2006 as an industrial location – 70 percent of financial year: the added value created by the Panamera The construction work is all on sche- 35,128 vehicles will stay in Germany. Porsche has arranged dule. The base plates will shortly be cast. (2004⁄2005: 41,299 vehicles) things very impressively. The parent plant Pipes and cables will then be laid. The fa- in Zuffenhausen will supply the engines cade is due to be completed by the end Sales in and another 600 new jobs will be created of the year, which will allow work to be- 2005⁄2006 financial year: at suppliers. The painted bodies will come gin on the installation work for the new 34,134 vehicles from the Volkswagen plant in Hanover. series at the beginning of 2008. By the (2004 ⁄2005: 41,884 vehicles) This will secure another 500 jobs for end of 2009, a total of 50,000 premium the long term. vehicles a year from the Cayenne and Currently daily output: Panamera series will roll off the produc- 180 vehicles (two-shift system) “We need examples like Porsche”, said tion lines in Leipzig. Rosy prospects.The Tiefensee. “This is a company that keeps musicians from the Leipzig brass en- Panamera: its promises.” Porsche is also facing up to semble had exactly the right song for Four-seat Gran Turismo its responsibilities in terms of the envi- the topping-out ceremony – Bright Side To be launched in 2009 ronment. The development of a hybrid en- of Life. After all, Porsche is currently en- gine for the models produced in Leipzig joying the very best that life has to offer. Planned Panamera volume: could set the tone for the future. Jung 20,000 vehicles ⁄ year added: “Porsche has credibility. When the company came to Leipzig in 2000, it Carrera Issue 4 ⁄2007 7 Porsche Club News 4/07 Customer Centre After 25 years: Complete rejuvenation of a 911 Targa Porsche Classic brings the shine back to vintage cars and explains in depth exactly what has been contemporaries alike. The Customer Centre at the Zuffen- done during the partial restoration of the 25-year old car. Harsche listens in- hausen plant meets all expectations in terms of repair, tently and, by the end is not only fully in- maintenance, care and restoration. formed but also extremely impressed by the workmanship’s quality. As it cele- Dr. Markus Harsch had to wait five long his hand. The spots of rust on the wing? brates its “silver jubilee”, the car is glea- months to see his car again. The 57-year “Lovely.You can’t see a thing”, he notes ming again. “Fantastic, just like new. It old was both excited and cautious as with satisfaction. Porsche Classic did couldn’t be better”, says Harsch, who he entered the workshop. Suddenly, his the entire job. Harsch is standing at a uses the car for Alpine crossings and in old love was back for all to see. The ob- historic location in Plant 1. The Porsche the summer for holidays on Lake Garda ject of his passion is a platinum metallic parent plant was constructed in 1938 in Italy, when he carries two surfboards 911Targa produced in 1982. First came and is still making wishes come true for on the roof. a satisfied smile, then a relieved chuckle Porsche drivers from all over the world. and then his eyes were gleaming. Jutta Aldenhoff also takes a keen inte- Their first point of contact is often Kuno rest. Smiles on customers’ faces are The Swiss enthusiast gave his darling Werner. That was the case for Harsch. confirmation that her department is an expert inspection. The new roof? “Per- The customer advisor shows the Swiss doing its job: “Customers place huge fect”, says Harsch,stroking it lovingly with customer every detail of the work. He trust in us, because they expect that as Before the Harschs began their journey home to Switzerland, Classic Manager Jutta Aldenhoff (left) presented them with the restoration folder 8 Porsche Club News 2/07 Porsche Club News 4/07 the manufacturer, we will take perfect care of their vehicles”, says the Mana- ger of Porsche Classic.“And we take our work very seriously.” Aldenhoff presents Harsch with a restoration folder with certificate and badge. The folder provi- des detailed documentation of the 140 hours of work. Photos illustrate where, why and how the work was carried out. In the case of this 911 Targa, the body was repaired and painted. The roof had to be dismantled, repaired and re-as- sembled with original seals. Kuno Werner had kept Markus Harsch up to date constantly over the preceding months by telephone or e-mail. “The cus- tomer needs to feel that they are in good hands with us”, he says. “The restoration Reunion: Kuno Werner explains to Markus Harsch everything that has been was tailored precisely to the vehicle.” repaired on his 911 Targa For Harsch, collecting his car was a little journey into the past twenty five years ago, he bought the car for 62,000 Swiss Francs at a dealer in Lörrach but picked it up himself in Zuffenhausen. He imme- diately recognised the brick-built Plant 1. He noticed plenty of changes during his factory tour, but he was impressed by the first-class service at that time as well as now. Like the Classic depart- ment, the customer reception where the vehicle was officially handed over to Harsch and his wife in the afternoon, as it was 25 years ago, is part of the main Customer Centre sales department. Harsch actually wanted to collect his car on 22nd March – exactly 25 years and 128,000 kilometres after it left the factory in 1982 – but the harsh winter weather put an end to those hopes.