Porsche 75 Years
By Elke Porter | Westcoast German News | November 22, 2025
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This year marks a remarkable milestone: 75 years of Porsche manufacturing in Zuffenhausen. On April 6, 1950, the first Porsche 356 produced in Germany rolled off the line at the Stuttgart facility, launching an extraordinary success story. What began in November 1937 as a modest three-story brick building has evolved into a sprawling 600,000-square-meter production center—the beating heart of Porsche's sports car legacy.
The story reads like a classic entrepreneurial journey. By the mid-1930s, Porsche's engineering office on Kronenstrasse had outgrown its quarters, with development work still happening in garages at the Porsche villa. Ferry Porsche acquired land from the Wolff family, and architect Richard Pfob designed an ambitious facility. The original 1937 plans even included employee sports facilities—a 100-meter track, swimming pool, and gardens—though only the factory itself was ultimately constructed.
On June 26, 1938, 176 employees made the move to Zuffenhausen. What's now known as Plant 1 became the headquarters of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG. However, World War II interrupted these plans, forcing the company to relocate to Gmünd, Austria, where the first 52 examples of the 356 were built.
Returning to Stuttgart after the war proved challenging. With Allied forces occupying Plant 1, Porsche partnered with coachbuilder Reutter across the street for production. This collaboration proved fortuitous—on April 6, 1950, the first German-built Porsche 356 was completed in Zuffenhausen, marking the beginning of 75 years of uninterrupted manufacturing excellence. By 1965, approximately 78,000 356 models had been produced at the site.
The facility expanded rapidly through the decades. Plant 2 opened in 1952, followed by Plant 3 in 1960. When Porsche acquired Reutter's coachworks in 1963, the workforce doubled to 2,000 employees. That same year saw production begin on the 901—later renamed the iconic 911—which would define the brand for generations.
Innovation continued with Plant 5 in the 1980s, featuring a distinctive conveyor bridge spanning Schwieberdinger Strasse. The 2010s brought another transformation with the all-electric Taycan, requiring new body shops, paint facilities, and another conveyor bridge.
Today, Zuffenhausen represents more than manufacturing—it's where high technology meets traditional craftsmanship, where mass production coexists with bespoke customization. After 75 years, the site continues producing sports cars while also manufacturing engines, electric drives, and handling the individualization of customer vehicles. It's a place where Porsche's past and future converge, and where the legacy that began in 1950 continues to thrive.
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