The new Porsche Cajun baby SUV will be built alongside the Cayenne and Panamera at the company's factory in Leipzig, Germany.
Since its inauguration in 2002, this plant has been producing the Cayenne. After its first expansion, the four-seater Panamera Gran Turismo has been built there since 2009, which is produced in a model mix with the Cayenne. With the plans for the plant to become a full-fledged production for the Cajun along with body assembly line and paint shop, it is said that it will create about 1000 new jobs at Porsche in Leipzig along with even more opportunities created in Zuffenhausen and Weissach.
The Cajun is expected to be derived from the platform of the Audi Q5. Engines are said to include a pair of 3.0-liter V6s, with the normally aspirated version developing 290 horsepower and the twin-turbo unit making 350 hp.
The new "light and easy to handle" Cajun will be released in late 2012 or early 2013.
Press Release
Porsche builds the new "Cajun" in Leipzig
Stuttgart/Leipzig. The decision about the production site for the fifth model line of the Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has been taken: The new vehicle with the project designation "Cajun" will be manufactured at the Porsche plant in Leipzig. This was decided by the supervisory board. The monitoring body authorised the board of management to finalise plans for the Saxony plant to become a fully-fledged production site for the "Cajun" including body assembly line and paint shop. Within the context of the Cajun production, at least one thousand new jobs are to be created in Leipzig, and additional new jobs at Porsche in Zuffenhausen and Weissach. Subject to approval by the authorities, construction work at the 400 hectare (1.54 square miles) site is scheduled to begin in 2011.
"During the production of the Cayenne and the Panamera, our Leipzig plant has impressively proved that it can produce premium vehicles of highest quality," says Matthias Müller, chairman of the Porsche AG board of management. "The decision in favour of this location is proof of our trust in the skills and qualifications of our Leipzig associates, and at the same time another contribution to the economic advancement of the region."
Uwe Hück, chairman of the group works council, said: "I am happy that I can sit back now. We had tough but fair negotiations. The employees' representatives have always been convinced that it is worthwhile to make the "Cajun" at our Saxony plant. At the end of the day, the high flexibility and productivity of our colleagues, male and female, has convinced the management board and the supervisory board to produce the "Cajun" in Leipzig. We are therefore very happy that the supervisory board authorised the board of management to plan the expansion of the Leipzig plant and turn it into a fully-fledged factory. The production of the Cajun is a very good sign for Leipzig. However, we cannot rest now but have to start talks about a further expansion of the Zuffenhausen plant in order to adapt our parent plant to future growth, too."
Burkhard Jung, mayor of the city of Leipzig, said: "The decision of the Porsche AG proves yet again that Leipzig with its professional city administration is an attractive, cosmopolitan city and, therefore, an international business site with a future."
With the efficient and agile "Cajun", Porsche extends its SUV segment which is in high demand all over the world. In addition to the new generation of the Cayenne which has clearly managed to strengthen its market position as one of the most successful sporty off-road vehicles in the premium segment, the light and easy-to-handle "Cajun" so typical of a Porsche will create further momentum. As an attractive entry-level modeI, it is expected to pave the way for new, even younger customers to enter the world of Porsche, in addition to the Boxster as the market leader among the two-seat mid-engine sports cars.
Since its inauguration in 2002, the highly modern plant in Saxony, Germany, has been producing the Cayenne. After its first expansion, the Gran Turismo Panamera four-seater has been built there since 2009. It is produced in a model mix with the sporty off-road vehicle. Up until today, Porsche has invested around 280 million euro in Leipzig.
