People, cars and what moves them
What motivates people to excel? What lies concealed beneath the bonnet of a car? Who will determine the economy of the future? The Autostadt invites its visitors to journey into the world of mobility. 25 hectares of rolling hills and lakes, together with extraordinary architecture and design form the background to the numerous and multi-facetted Autostadt attractions. An exhibition of the definitive car classics allows a view into the past, artworks and films stimulate discussion, while interactive research stations offer opportunities for experimentation and exciting productions – like the Movimentos Festival Weeks and the Themenkommunikation, which excite the imagination. The Autostadt offers every visitor their own unique and individual experience.

With its emphasis on responsibility towards humankind, the diversity of the Autostadt mirrors the broad orientation that defines the Volkswagen Group. For this reason the art-lover, high-tech enthusiast and even tourists passing by, will find themselves at home here. The Autostadt is an awe-inspiring complex that adopts the values of the Volkswagen Group and brings them to life. It’s a place where quality, safety, achievement and sustainability go hand in hand with customer service. It also reflects knowledge generated in other parts of the world and the different philosophies which underlie each individual brand.

As a communications platform of the Volkswagen Group, the Autostadt is the interface between the customer and the global company. The emphasis is not on the ‘quick fix’, but on the intensive exploration of the many facets of mobility. The Autostadt stands for a culture of business that lays particular emphasis on superior service and exacting standards. The multi-lingual staff work together with one aim in mind – to give visitors an experience they won‘t forget. Welcome to the Autostadt!

AutoTürme (CarTowers)
The CarTowers are situated next to the Car Distribution Centre in the east corner of the Autostadt. The 48 metre high, fully automated, high-rise stacks, deliver an average of 600 vehicles per day, and tower majestically over the Autostadt landscape. The glass-encased steel construction, allows for a clear view of its interior – and the sparkling new Volkswagens within. Both as a landmark for the Autostadt and storage system of up to 800 new cars, the CarTowers are visible far into the distance – thanks mainly to their spectacular night-time illumination.

The new cars are rolled over from the neighbouring Volkswagen plant using a robotic-pallet system mounted on rails. The cars are loaded into and fetched from the towers using two ‘car shuttles’ or lifts per tower, each servicing 180° of the silo. Cars are loaded 24 hours in advance of their collection, to ensure on-time delivery, aided by their close proximity to the Car Distribution Centre.

A signal which is activated by the customer-service agent sets one of the car shuttles in motion. The shuttle then selects the correct vehicle and conveys it to the centre of the tower from where it is gently lowered to the ground floor. Thereafter the new car rolls through a tunnel into the Car Distribution Centre. Here, in the LastFinish area, number plates are mounted, prior to the customer taking final charge of the vehicle.

KundenCenter (Car Distribution Centre)
This is where customers come to collect their new cars. The Car Distribution Centre is the interface between vehicle production and the hand-over of the product to the customer. Situated on the East side of the Autostadt, The Car Distribution Centre is an 87 metre wide, 16 metre high ellipse in glass. An angled conical pylon anchors the steel cables which support the roof of the structure.

Matt Mullican’s contemporary pictogram banners are visible from almost every angle inside the Car Distribution Centre and even through the glass facade from the outside. The banner-format allows artworks to function within this ‘wall-less’ construction. The ‘Market Place’ is the Car Distribution Centre‘s viewing platform for the Volkswagen brand‘s latest models.

A large display panel above the ‘Market Place’ indicates the names of customers coming to collect their new cars. Taking possession of a new car is a special event, with professional advice from your own personal consultant! The hand-over takes place on the ground floor level.

The ‘Market Place’ shop stocks a vast range of accessories for your vehicle – from child seats to bicycle racks. A spiral staircase takes you from the ‘Market Place’ up to the second floor where the self-service, high-speed restaurant TachoMeter offers a variety of tasty meals. Its perfect counterpoint, the StadtCafé lies adjacent to TachoMeter and serves Austrian specialities and delicious afternoon treats!

For more information, or to organise a visit to the Autostadt, visit www.autostadt.de