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Porsche has expanded its Leipzig plant in preparation for 2009 production of the four-seater Panamera GT. Total investment for the buildings and production equipment amounted to €150 million.

The site’s existing assembly facilities, which manufacture the Cayenne SUV, will also be expanded to include a pilot and analysis centre. From 2009, Porsche expect Leipzig to produce more then 50,000 Cayennes and Panameras.

Porsche production and logistics director Michael Macht said: “Thanks to a well-polished production concept, Porsche can produce premium vehicles at the Leipzig plant in relatively small volumes at a competitive cost.”

At the end of summer 2007; Porsche will start installing assembly equipment for the model series. The first prototype builds of the Panamera will then be assembled during the course of 2008.

The Panamera’s engines will be manufactured at the Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, where Porsche is also expanding. An 11,000m sq facility will be connected to its engine plant.

The €20 million facility will allow the engine plant to focus on powertrain assembly. Consignment sales of replacement engine parts will be move to the new area.

The lower floor of the facility will accommodate a pilot manufacturing line for prototype production.

The Volkswagen plant in Hannover will supply the painted chassis. The vehicle will then be assembled in the Leipzig plant. Porsche calculates it has an in-house production level of 15 per cent for the Panamera.