According to AutoEuropa’s administration, Volkswagen’s assembly plant produced a “historical volume” this year of 139,667 units due to the successful launch of the T-Roc, which has surpassed 100,000 units, and the continuous good acceptance of other vehicles, including the Volkswagen Sharan and the SEAT Alhambra, produced in Palmela, Setubal, near Lisbon.

The company confirmed the new maximum production history in the factory’s 26 years of operation. It was reached at a time when the new continuous shift work has been implemented, with a fourth shift.

Despite the new maximum production history in 26 years of activity - which should be substantially higher by the end of December -, AutoEuropa’s administration and workers continue negotiating the work pay for Sunday, which is being paid as a normal day, but workers want it to be paid as overtime work, as is done with work on Saturdays.

According to the company’s data, in 2017” AutoEuropa’s sales weight on Portugal’s goods export was 3.4%”, a number that increases to “12.3% if we only consider exports from Lisbon’s metropolitan area”, which includes the plant.

AutoEuropa expects to double its sales in 2018 compared to 2017, meaning that Portugal’s goods export would grow 3.4%, and the weight on the exports would increase to 6.6%.

However, considering to the dynamics of Portugal’s other economy sectors, it is expected that AutoEuropa production will represent about 5% of Portugal’s exports in 2018.