VW stopped Passat production for two days in Germany due to slower demand

Volkswagen halted production of the Passat sedan at a German plant on Thursday and Friday in order to adapt to slower demand in Europe.

Work was suspended at the Emden plant as Passat production had surpassed the planned output, said Christoph Adoman, a VW spokesman in Wolfsburg. He added that the carmaker regularly adapts production to market demand.

Volkswagen’s sales in Europe, including Seat and Audi, rose 0.5 percent in the first eight months of the year as industry sales dropped 6.6 percent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. Car sales in Europe are expected to shrink 7 percent this year, hitting the lowest level in 17 years.

VW’s premium brand Audi also halted production last week at its factory in Neckarsulm, where A6, A7 and A8 sedans are built. Audi blamed slowing demand for higher-end cars especially in southern Europe. Meanwhile, Audi sales in China rose 20 percent to 35,512 vehicles in September, while in the first nine months of the year, sales were up 31 percent in the world’s largest car market.