German sports car manufacturer Porsche AG has extended its contract with Finnish Valmet Automotive, to continue the production of its Boxster and Cayman models at Valmet's plant in Uusikaupunki until 2011. Production of the Boxster (986) in Uusikaupunki began in the fall of 1997, when demand for the new entry-level Porsche soared and Porsche's own Zuffenhausen manufacturing plant failed to keep up with demand.
"Over all these years in which we have been building premium sports cars together, Valmet has been a fair, reliable and calculable partner for Porsche. The product quality, so significant particularly for Porsche, has remained excellent throughout the years" said Michael Macht, Member of Porsche's Board of Management, at the ten-year cooperation celebration in Uusikaupunki on October 16, 2007.
Since 1997 Valmet Automotive has produced roughly 180,000 units of the Boxster series (incl. Cayman) and currently completes about 100 cars every day. The manufacturing plant employs over 800 employees and continues to be an important partner for Porsche, as the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen plant operates at full capacity.
Valmet Extends Contract with Porsche
Press Release (Click to expand)
Ten years of Porsche production in Uusikaupunki
The Porsche sports car production at Valmet Automotive started ten years ago. Since that more than 180,000 Porsche Boxster and Cayman cars have been manufactured in Finland.
– Porsche AG have extended the contract with Valmet Automotive until 2011, confirmed Mr Michael Macht, Member of Porsche's Board of Management, in the celebration of the ten-year cooperation on the 16th of October in Uusikaupunki.
– Over all these years in which we have been building premium sports cars together, Valmet has been a fair, reliable and calculable partner for Porsche. The product quality, so significant particularly for Porsche, has remained excellent throughout the years, he said.
The production of Porsche Boxster in Uusikaupunki was launched in autumn 1997, as Porsche AG was not able to meet the demand for the new model in its own plant. The number of first generation Porsche Boxster cars manufactured in Finland in 1997–2004 totals 109,213 units.
Today Valmet Automotive manufactures both models of the Boxster product line. The production of the new Boxster started in 2004 and that of Cayman in 2005. For the moment, about 100 cars are completed daily.
Mr Juhani Suvinen, President of Valmet Automotive, thanks Porsche for the ten years of cooperation:
– We have succeeded in building an open cooperation based on trust. The joint know-how of Porsche and Valmet teams has yielded fantastic results. Excellent quality, flexibility and reliability are the cornerstones in our partnership with Porsche. Through strong cooperation, we will further contribute to Porsche's continued success, Mr Suvinen says.
At Valmet Automotive, Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman are completed according to customer orders. The manufacturing process includes welding, painting and final assembly. Today Valmet Automotive employs 800 people.
Valmet Automotive is the only factory outside Germany assembling Porsche cars. More than 40 million Euro have been invested in the production facilities during the last few years. For example in welding, the automation grade and the capacity have been increased. This year the clear coat process was renewed.
Porsche production at Valmet Automotive:
| 1997 | 1,913 Boxster |
| 1998 | 10,469 Boxster |
| 1999 | 14,934 Boxster |
| 2000 | 19,462 Boxster |
| 2001 | 23,414 Boxster |
| 2002 | 20,196 Boxster |
| 2003 | 12,998 Boxster |
| 2004 | 10,050 Boxster |
| 2005 | 21,233: Boxster 16,368 and Cayman 4,865 |
| 2006 | 32,393: Boxster 13,254 and Cayman 19,139 |
| 2007 | from Jan 1 to Jun 30, 13,236: Boxster 6,570 and Cayman 6,666 |
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