Volkswagen de México has built the first test body for the Long Wheel Base Tiguan. The body-in white Tiguan was put together in order to test the build-process and calibrate the body shop equipment at the new facility.

The German automaker is slowly bringing the new body shop at its Puebla, Mexico plant online after construction was completed at the end of 2015. The shop is in a new building measuring 70,800 square meters. The shop features more than 50,000 tons of equipment, at the core of which are the 800 Fanuc welding robots. VW is still training personnel for the body shop.

The 7-seater Tiguan will feature a wheel base extended by 11 cm (4.33 inches) over the standard, 5-seat model with a longer rear overhang for more trunk room. Production is set to begin in early 2017. The LWB Tiguan is headed for markets around the world, although, it will not be sold in China.