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December 22, 2005
something beautiful for the VW fans
via boingboing.
Photos of VW's transparent factory in Dresden.
This factory is where VW's high-end sedan (saloon?), the Phaeton, is made. I'm not a fan of VW's large, fuel-gobbling vehicles, and unless things take an unexpected turn, the Phaeton will never be something I can afford, anyway. But that's not the point.
The factory is the star here, not the car. If you're a VW enthusiast, an engineer of any sort, or have an interest in human factors, this place will sing to you.
I would love to see the human factors research that went into this place. There's one photo that is very telling– where a platform raises to support the car at a comfortable working height, rather than the car being lowered to the floor. You never see a assembly worker bending or crouching or otherwise assuming an uncomfortable working position (although since these photos are courtesy of VW's media department, they don't show us everything). Just the fact that the place is so beautiful and so clean shows respect for the workers.
I would love to see this place in person some day...
Posted by lisa at December 22, 2005 08:56 AM
Comments
Have you ever seen a Phaeton on the road? I have not. I have never seen one that was not on a showroom floor. If a person had that much money to spend, wouldn't they just go ahead and get a Mercedes?
The factory, though, it is beautiful.
Posted by: minty on December 22, 2005 12:09 PM
The only one i recall seeing was on display out at Large Sprawling Overcrowded Overpriced Mall in Small Southern City.
I have heard from people who know people who have bought them that they are nice cars, but the problem is VW service-- it sux. Even though they did all this special stuff for Phaeton service, at that price level, people expect more.
Posted by: lisa on December 22, 2005 01:04 PM
that's really neat.
but now I want to see pics of the mexican beetle factory for comparison...
Posted by: marie on December 22, 2005 04:00 PM
ok, so a) your comment won't post right away because i have to approve it first and b) you might get a server error but your comment probably posted anyway and c) previewing doesn't work so i've removed the preview button.