Production

A Fourth Model Has Joined the MB I Line

Series production of the large electric SUV Peaq started at the beginning of August. It shares its assembly line with the Enyaq, Elroq and Octavia.

To build the Peaq, with seating for up to seven, on the same line as its three “siblings”, a whole range of changes to the production process was needed. The Peaq is larger and heavier than the other models, so the conveyors, manipulators, conveyor positions and other details across the shops all had to be adapted. “We started discussing the production launch back at the beginning of 2022, when the Peaq was still in development,” reveals Ondřej Novotný from PPS-1 – Management of Project MB I.

The floor was a challenge

The Peaq uses a version of the VW Group platform that is new to Europe. It had to be adapted for the production of an SUV with up to seven seats. Among other things, this means that the Press Shop in Mladá Boleslav, which also prepares the model’s other body parts, produces the rear floor as well. Specifically its front and rear sections, which are unique to the Peaq. Preparation of the pressing tools with the supplier began in mid-2024. Other changes were going on at the same time. “During the collective holiday in 2025, the production concept in the Body Shop had to be almost completely reworked, as the Peaq joined it as another specific model. Our colleagues managed it admirably,” says Martina Weiserová from the PAS – Launch Management Project MQB27 Classic/MEB21 department. The Paint Shop also had to cope with a bigger car. The challenge here was the new Rosewood Beige metallic paint. “It is very demanding when it comes to matching the shade across parts from different suppliers,” adds Vlastimil Konečný from PAS.

The key changes came at the very end

Line MB I in Hall M13 was modified well in advance of the start of series production of the Peaq. The battery conveyors, for example, had to be strengthened. The largest battery for the Peaq is up to 50 kilograms heavier than the one in the Enyaq. The biggest changes, however, only came during the collective holiday that has just ended. Bodies now travel along the line on new, larger conveyor positions, which are more ergonomic and contribute to even higher safety at work. Another new feature is a manipulator that can also handle the third row of seats.

Training the staff was essential too. “We already have our people at the pilot hall, where the cars have been built since 2025, learning the project. We then organise so-called 3P workshops, where we take a car apart against the flow of the line and time the individual operations so that everything fits,” explains Roman Kira from the PF1-M – Assembly Shop MB I department.

Preparing the Peaq for series production was achieved in record time thanks to well-linked steps and effective coordination of activities across all the teams.

How the Launch Team Viewed the Start of Production of the Peaq Model

The launch of the new Peaq model in Mladá Boleslav showed that, when necessary, we are able to work together to significantly speed up the process and improvise, while not compromising on what matters most: the quality of the car.

The Body Shop played a crucial role. Thanks to the precisely managed integration into the existing technology, we not only managed to complete the subsequent stages of the ramp-up but also maintained production flexibility. The line thus remained ready to produce not only electric vehicles but also the conventional Octavia Combi, additional volumes of which had meanwhile been transferred to Kvasiny to free up capacity for the Peaq. The Paint Shop also had its own story to tell. The branding colour was ultimately fine-tuned during the pilot production run: selecting the right shade simply took more time.

Production of the Peaq model now takes place on a flexible line alongside the Enyaq, Elroq and Octavia Combi models. The combination of different vehicle types, powertrains and specific requirements significantly increases the complexity of production organisation. Nevertheless, everything was successfully coordinated into a functioning whole on time.

The assembly team demonstrated the pace of the entire project in practice: practically the next day after the model entered the production line in Hall M13, 4 cars rolled off the line without any major issues, capable of driving under their own power to the quality testing centre for analysis and to the pre-series production centre for finalisation. Within a very short time, the production team – with the support of the start-up staff – learnt to assemble a completely new type of car in its entirety and at the pace of the assembly line.

Behind the whole story are the people: the teams in production, quality, logistics, procurement and development, who were able to react quickly, work together and find solutions in real time. The launch of the Peaq model is therefore not just a design success, but above all proof that in Mladá Boleslav we are able to overcome even exceptional situations quickly and effectively, resulting in a high-quality vehicle.