The Volkswagen-owned business last year awarded production of its first mass-produced electric sport-utility vehicle to a plant in Brussels, and has since been under pressure from labour unions to allocate electric car projects to Germany.

"Production of the two new fully electric SUVs is another milestone for our secure future," works council chief Peter Mosch said in the statement on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Maria Sheahan)

Stocks treated in this article : Audi AG, Volkswagen