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 nightly 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 timeous 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 before the customer takes final charge of the vehicle.