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Volkswagen weighs deeper restructuring as CEO pushes for major cost cuts The German automaker faces pressure from Chinese rivals, weak EV demand and global trade challenges as leadership considers sweeping changes. On the Dash: Volkswagen CEOOliver Blumeis seeking approval for a broader restructuring plan that could include up to 100,000 job cuts and the closure of four German factories as the automaker works to restore profitability and improve competitiveness. Sign up for CBT News’ daily newsletter and get the latest industry stories delivered straight to your inbox. Blume has stated that Volkswagen’s traditional business model no longer suits today’s automotive market. While the company aims to achieve an operating margin of 8% to 10% by 2030, following a decline to 2.8% in 2025, it also faces challenges from U.S. tariffs, a slowdown in sales in China, and growing competition from Chinese automakers, such asBYDandXiaomi. Notably, Volkswagen has increased its investments in EVs after theDieselgate emissions scandal. Software delays, a slowdown in EV demand, and intense competition in China have hindered the returns on these investments, as Chinese automakers are also expand…

German Government Vows to Block VW Domestic Plant Closures, Says Up to ... The German government stated on the 29th that it aims to prevent automotive giant Volkswagen (VW) from closing its domestic factories in Germany. However, it also emphasized that the final decision-making authority rests squarely with the company, highlighting simmering tensions between the public and private sectors. A government spokesperson explicitly stated, "We aim to avoid plant closures in Germany." To achieve this, the spokesperson noted, "We must establish appropriate framework conditions, including the necessary competitive mechanisms," adding that "incentives need to be provided so that these facilities can remain profitable." However, the spokesperson also pointed out that "in principle, such decisions are always made by companies from a commercial perspective," indicating the government is not prepared to intervene directly. The remarks followed reports that VW is considering closing four plants in Germany and cutting up to 100,000 jobs. According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke on the 26th, the company is being forced into drastic structural reforms due to a combination of inte…

VW faces protests in Germany over proposed job cuts and factory closures <p>Demonstrations at 18 sites set up as radical transformation plan put to board of Europe’s biggest carmaker</p><p>Volkswagen’s proposal to slash up to 100,000 jobs and close factories faces a major test on Thursday as formal proposals are put to the supervisory board at Europe’s biggest carmaker, with protests planned at all plants in Germany.</p><p>IG Metall, the influential staff union, has organised demonstrations involving shop stewards and union council members at 18 sites, including the company’s headquarters. It warned the chief executive, Oliver Blume, that he cannot “pass the buck for failures of recent years on to the workforce”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/09/vw-protests-germany-proposed-job-cuts-factory-closures">Continue reading...</a>

German govt aims to prevent Volkswagen's domestic plant closures The German government intends to stop domestic plant ​closures at Volkswagen, Europe's largest carmaker, according to a spokesperson on Monday, although stressing ⁠that the de...

German Government Aims to Prevent Volkswagen Plant Closures Published byGlobal Banking & Finance Review Posted on June 29, 2026 · Last updated: June 29, 2026 BERLIN, June 29 (Reuters) - The German government aims to prevent domestic plant closures at Volkswagen, Europe's largest carmaker, a spokesperson said on Monday, while stressing the decision ultimately rests with the company. The automaker, under pressure from Chinese rivals, U.S. tariffs and dwindling demand in Europe, is considering shutting four German factories and ramping up job cuts to as many as 100,000, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. Closures at such a major industrial group would deal a further blow to the German government's efforts to revive a sluggish economy and improve weak poll ratings. "Our aim is to prevent the closure of sites in Germany," the spokesperson said. "To achieve this, the right framework conditions must be in place, including the necessary competitive mechanisms. Incentives must be provided to ensure that these sites remain profitable," he said. "In principle, however, it is always up to the companies to make these decisions on commercial grounds." Volkswagen's plan…

Volkswagen to cut 100,000 jobs as part of cost-cutting drive: Report - CNBC In this article Auto giantVolkswagenis planning to cut 100,000 jobs and end production at four German plants over the coming years, according to areportfrom Manager Magazin, in a move that would represent the most radical overhaul in the firm's 89-year history. The plan, reported on Friday, would see Europe's largest automobile manufacturer shed roughly 15% of its workforce as it seeks tocounter intensifying competitionfrom Chinese car brands. It would also see the Wolfsburg-headquartered company reduce planned investment in the company by about 15% to just over 130 billion euros ($148.2 billion) over the next five years and cease production at plants in Hanover, Zwickau, Emden, alongside Audi's Neckarsulm site. Volkswagen had already laid out plans to implement sweeping job cuts and launched a major product offensive as it seeks to boost profitability. The figures cited by Manager Magazin, however, represent a stark acceleration of those planned job cuts, given that around 50,000 jobs had been expected across the company in Germany by 2030. Volkswagen agreed a deal with unions in late 2024 to avoid …

Germany says it wants to prevent Volkswagen plant closures BERLIN -- The German government aims to prevent domestic plant closures at Volkswagen , Europe’s largest carmaker, a spokesperson said on Monday, while stressing the decision ultimately rests with the company. The automaker, under pressure from Chinese rivals, U.S. tariffs and dwindling demand in Europe, is considering shutting four German factories and ramping up job cuts to as many as 100,000, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. Closures at such a major industrial group would deal a further blow to the German government’s efforts to revive a sluggish economy and improve weak poll ratings. Latest updates on international news here “Our aim is to prevent the closure of sites in Germany,” the spokesperson said. “To achieve this, the right framework conditions must be in place, including the necessary competitive mechanisms. Incentives must be provided to ensure that these sites remain profitable,” he said. “In principle, however, it is always up to the companies to make these decisions on commercial grounds.” Volkswagen’s plans, which the company has not made public, are likely to face strong opposition from…

Volkswagen Weighs 100,000 Job Cuts, Four Plant Closures One hundred thousand jobs. That is the figure looming overVolkswagen, alongside the closure of four German factories, in what would be the deepest cut in the carmaker's 89-year history, according to a report by Manager Magazin. The cuts would wipe out roughly 15% of a657,400-strong workforceand double the 50,000 reductions already agreed for Germany by 2030. The company is squeezed byChinese rivals, stiff US import tariffs and softening demand throughout Europe, a mix it has called unsustainable. Presenting first-quarter results earlier this year, in which net profit fell 28% to €1.56bn (US$1.78bn), Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz put it plainly. "The cost savings planned so far are not enough," Arno says. "If we fail to do this, we are putting our future at risk." Volkswagen Chief Executive Oliver Blume pitched the overhaul, 100,000 job cuts and four plant closures, to senior managers last week, ahead of a decisive supervisory board meeting earlier in June. Four sites are marked for closure, home between them to more than 45,000 jobs: Therestructuring planwould pare planned investment by about 15%, to just over €1…

Volkswagen weighs 100,000 job cuts and four factory closures in biggest ... Volkswagen is considering cutting up to 100,000 jobs and shutting four factories in Germany, a restructuring that would become the largest workforce reduction in automotive industry history if approved, Reuters reported, citing the people familiar with the matter. Members of VW’s supervisory board have been informed of the plans, which are due to be discussed at a board meeting on July 9, the report added. The restructuring highlights the mounting pressure on Europe’s biggest carmaker from Chinese electric vehicle makers, weakening demand in Europe and US tariffs. The outcome could reshape Germany’s manufacturing sector and the global auto industry. Closing plants at Hanover, Zwickau, Emden and Audi’s Neckarsulm site would put more than45,000 jobs at risk, on top of the 50,000 cuts already planned, bringing the total to as many as 100,000 positions. In absolute terms, the move would surpass even General Motors’ sweeping restructuring during its 2009 bankruptcy, and the early 1990s when GM cut up to 74,000 jobs over four years and shut or idled 21 plants. Volkswagen’s global workforcestood at 667,164 i…

German car industry warns of job collapse unless ‘bold decisions’ made to address Chinese threat <p>VW to propose 100,000 job losses to board and says car plants could be put under foreign ownership to save jobs</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://viewer.gutools.co.uk/world/live/2026/jul/08/trump-nato-summit-greenland-us-turkey-rutte-marine-le-pen-europe-latest-news-updates">Europe live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>The German car industry has warned of a potential collapse of employment in the sector in Europe unless society and workers accept that “bold decisions” are needed to address competition from the Chinese and other rivals.</p><p>Volkswagen is preparing to formally propose <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/26/vw-cut-jobs-shut-plants-volkswagen-china">up to 100,000 job losses</a> to its supervisory board on Thursday, a move that has triggered a wave of protests.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/08/german-car-industry-job-collapse-bold-decisions-address-chinese-threat">Continue reading...</a>

Germany Strives to Keep Volkswagen Open | Business Germany Strives to Keep Volkswagen Open The German government is working to prevent Volkswagen's domestic plant closures. Although ultimately a corporate choice, the government aims to create a conducive environment with competitive mechanisms and incentives to ensure profitability and sustainability. The decision-making remains with the companies based on commercial factors. Devdiscourse News Desk | It Is The German Governments Aim To Prevent Domestic Plant Closures By Volkswagen | Updated: 29-06-2026 16:08 IST | Created: 29-06-2026 16:08 IST This image is AI-generated and does not depict any real-life event or location. It is a fictional representation created for illustrative purposes only. SHARE The German government is actively seeking ways to prevent domestic plant closures by Volkswagen, a spokesperson announced on Monday. While acknowledging that the decision ultimately lies with the company, the government emphasizes the importance of creating favorable conditions to promote continued operation. "Our aim is to prevent the closure of sites in Germany," stated the spokesperson, highlighting the necessity of competitive mech…

VW could cut 100,000 jobs and close 4 factories in a radical shake-up VolkswagenCEO Oliver Blume is reportedly preparing the most dramatic overhaul in the automaker’s history, with plans that could eliminate up to 100,000 jobs worldwide and eventually close four factories in Germany. The report, first published by Germany’sManager Magazin, says the proposed restructuring goes well beyond the cost-cutting measures Volkswagen has already announced. Reuters and several other international outlets have since backed up the report’s broad outline, although Volkswagen has not officially confirmed the plans. According to the report, production would eventually end at Volkswagen’s plants in Hanover, Zwickau, and Emden, as well as at Audi’s factory in Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, after the current vehicle programs are phased out. The reported plan would impact some of Volkswagen’s most important EV operations. Zwickau is the company’s flagship EV plant, and Emden builds the ID.4 and ID.7. While the report doesn’t suggest Volkswagen is scaling back its EV ambitions, it does point to a potential consolidation of EV production as the automaker looks to cut costs and boost profits. The pr…

VW Group Could Slash 100,000 Jobs And Spin Off Core Brand VW is reportedly considering eliminating up to 100,000 jobs worldwide. Four German factories could close for good after current programs end. Unions promise fierce resistance as execs prepare overhaul discussions. Volkswagen has spent the past few years trimming costs, but its next round of belt-tightening could make previous efforts seem like trying to get ripped for summer on a 50-calorie deficit. Reports out of Germany claim the automaker is considering a sweeping overhaul that could ultimately affect as many as 100,000 jobs worldwide. But the alleged plans go far beyond workforce reductions . They allegedly include factory closures, lower investment spending, major administrative cuts, and even changes to the way the entire Volkswagen Group is organized. If implemented, this would rank among the most significant shakeups in the company’s history. Related: VW Confirms New Atlas Cross Sport, ID. Buzz Returns With A Bed For 2027 The story was first reported by Manager Magazin and has since been picked up by other outlets, including Reuters. According to those reports, CEO Oliver Blume and CFO Arno Antlitz are considering b…