DM 1 bn VW investment to create 2,300 jobs in Poznan

German car producer Volkswagen (VW) is to spend DM 1 billion on the developm ent of its Poznan plant, under a plan that will see output increase to 150,0 00 vehicles by 2005. The major part of the investment, DM 800 million, will be plowed into the plant's development over the next two years. The Poznan p lant is to become VW's sole production base for the new SLW city delivery va n, and according to VW Poznan board member Witold Malachowski, to this end i t will be expanded and supplied with machinery. Poznan will also become the second producer, after Hannover, of the VW T5. The major part of the develop ment will be carried out by Polish subcontractors signed up by Hochtief, the company that won the tender for the work. Production of the SLW at Poznan wi ll also benefit Poland's car parts producers, since the bulk of supplies are to be obtained locally. The infrastructure expansion will be completed in 20 02, and production of the SLW should begin within a year after that. The new investment will create an additional 2,300 jobs, thus increasing the total w orkforce at the Poznan plant to 5,000. (Rzeczpospolita, Oct. 13-14, p. B1) J .K.