Production and logistics / Future-Production-Governance
Production Heads Towards Greater Efficiency and Flexibility
For the first time, the P & Friends Management Information 2026 meeting in Bratislava brought together production and logistics managers from the newly created Central Europe and India region, led by Andreas Dick.
Andreas Dick presented the new structure to production and logistics managers in Bratislava on 17 September.
Production and logistics
The VW Group is moving to a regional model for managing its production plants (see Future Production Governance). On 17 September, managers from the Central Europe and India region, led by Andreas Dick, Chief Production Officer responsible for Škoda Auto, Central Europe and India, met for the first time. The meeting took place at the Volkswagen Slovakia plant in Bratislava, which recently became part of the region. The plant builds 11 models for four brands, making it one of the region's pillars.
Managers from Škoda Auto, Volkswagen Slovakia and Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) attended in person or via livestream. The programme at the Auto Forum in Bratislava included a presentation of the new management structure, networking between teams and a look at priorities for the coming months. As the name P & Friends suggests, the meeting was not only about production and logistics. Colleagues from quality also spoke on stage, and representatives from finance and HR attended as well. This is because the new regional management affects their areas too.
1,450,000
Approximate number of vehicles produced at plants in the Central Europe and India region in 2025.
37,000
Approximate number of production employees at these plants.
30
Models this region produces for the Škoda, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche brands.
Czech plants are part of a key region
The Central Europe and India region plays a key role in Brand Group Core's new production structure. It includes plants in Europe and Asia that together build around 30 models for four brands, ranging from the smallest cars to large vehicles.
This gives the region an important role in making production competitive, flexible and efficient for the future. Its importance will grow further in the coming years. The key will be to share the best solutions across regions and brands, rather than developing them separately at each plant, and to use them where they have the greatest impact.
Cooperation is already well under way
The new structure was set up only about three months ago, but cooperation within the region is nothing new. Škoda Auto and the Bratislava plant already work together on joint projects, such as current production of the Škoda Superb and the Volkswagen Passat.
At working level, teams have been regularly sharing information about ongoing projects, technologies and solutions. They are comparing their approaches and looking for best practices and synergies. Step by step, they are also setting priorities.
In the next phase, the focus will be on planning future production projects, technologies and capacities together. This is where regional management will really prove its value, for example through shared know-how, common standards and more efficient investment.
Future Production Governance
The new model for managing production in the VW Group's volume brands (Brand Group Core) is based on sharing more know-how and making better use of synergies between plants. It aims to simplify processes and keep production competitive in the long term throughout the brand group.
The model is built around five new production regions. They are gradually taking over responsibility for managing the plants of all brands. Central functions remain in place and continue to set the strategic direction, define standards and coordinate work between the regions.