German car giant Volkswagen plans to eliminate about 25,000 jobs in Germany as part of a massive restructuring program that will cut 50,000 positions globally across its operations.
Chief Executive Oliver Blume announced the figures during an emergency staff meeting at company headquarters in Wolfsburg, northern Germany, in an effort to gain employee support during an ongoing crisis at Europe's largest automaker.
The meeting failed to calm worker anger, with Blume's speech before approximately 10,000 staff repeatedly interrupted by whistling and expressions of discontent, according to attendees. The session was the first of nine meetings scheduled across Volkswagen's major German facilities over the coming days.
Addressing the assembly, Blume outlined provisions for the group's second restructuring plan, following an initial program launched in 2024. Volkswagen operates ten distinct vehicle brands. Excerpts of Blume's speech provided to Agence France-Presse showed that roughly half of the required adjustments affect German facilities, while the remaining cuts impact international operations involving around 170 companies overall.
Staff Impacts and Factory Outlook
In a separate statement, Volkswagen's management board noted that it would rely as far as possible on voluntary exits, primarily early retirement, mutual severance agreements, and a restrictive hiring policy. Blume told workers that management would define specific measures in consultation with employee representatives, aiming to establish stable operational prospects over the next six to twelve months.
Blume acknowledged during the address that production plants in Emden, Hanover, Zwickau, and Neckarsulm currently lack viable manufacturing prospects for the 2030s. However, he assured employees that closing factories would remain the ultimate option and the most expensive solution for the business.
Background on Volkswagen
Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest vehicle manufacturers, employing hundreds of thousands of people across global markets. Headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, the corporate group encompasses ten major brands, including Audi, Porsche, Skoda, and SEAT, alongside its core Volkswagen passenger cars division.
The automaker forms a critical pillar of Germany's industrial economy, which relies heavily on motor vehicle production and export markets. The affected German manufacturing sites span multiple federal states: Emden and Hanover are key industrial hubs in Lower Saxony, Zwickau is an electric vehicle production center in Saxony, and Neckarsulm operates in Baden-Wuerttemberg.
