Palmela, Portugal, Aug. 19, 2025 (Lusa) - The president of Portugal on Tuesday highlighted the "huge step" for Portugal's economic growth with the production of a new Volkswagen car at Autoeuropa, emphasising that it is a "qualitative leap" in a decades-long national strategy.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited the Autoeuropa plant in Palmela this morning, accompanied by the minister for the economy and territorial cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, and then attended the signing of a series of declarations of intent between the Volkswagen group and the Portuguese government for the production of the ID.EVERY1 electric car.
In a speech at the signing ceremony, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa argued that Portugal is today taking "a huge step towards growth, innovation, exports, energy transition, decarbonisation and competitiveness".
"All challenges at the same time and all inevitably destined to be winners," the president noted.
In front of representatives of the German group, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa praised "the vision" that the former prime minister and president of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, had when, between 1989 and 1991, he negotiated the construction of the Autoeuropa plant.
Rebelo de Sousa emphasised that this vision has been "systematically supported by all governments, right-wing and left-wing, and by all presidents, left-wing and right-wing", noting that this was also seen today, with the presence of the economy minister, Manuel Castro Almeida, at the signing ceremony.
"In other words, for once, and it wasn't the only time, but it was perhaps one of the most important, there was a national strategy pursued over decades and which has now seen a very appreciable qualitative leap," he said.
The head of state praised the presence of Castro Almeida at the ceremony, and the fact that it was the minister who signed the declaration with Volkswagen, saying that this shows that the government understands "the strategic significance of the step taken by this group to build a Portugal with more growth, more competitiveness, more exports and, therefore, more economic and social success".
"Without this vision and this commitment, the Portuguese economy and society would be very different," he emphasised.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also left a word of "enormous recognition" for the Autoeuropa workers, considering that without them the plant "wouldn't be what it is today".
"I remember that many hours of my presidential term were spent at the service of the country, dealing with Autoeuropa issues and monitoring these economic, financial and labour issues," he said.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasised that the Autoeuropa workers are "thousands of men and women, almost 5,000 today", who have made it possible for the industry to grow in Portugal.
"They have managed to overcome differences, tensions, conflicts and periods of crisis, whether internal, in Portugal, or in the world, while at the same time making a significant journey of qualification and valorisation of their skills," he praised.
The government and Volkswagen today signed the agreement for the production of the new ID.EVERY1 electric car at Autoeuropa in Palmela, Setúbal district, saying that it represents the group's confidence in the country.
"The new T-ROC and the commitment to the ID.EVERY1 symbolise much more than just two new models, they represent the confidence of the Volskwagen Group in Portugal, they also represent the support and strategic vision of the Portuguese government and, above all, they represent the outstanding work that this team here [in Palmela] has done," said the Managing Director and Chairman of the Management Board of Volkswagen Autoeuropa, Thomas Engel Gunther, at the signing ceremony.
TA/ADB // ADB.
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