by Germany’s WirtschaftsWoche has reportedly obtained a 147 page document that details the thinking of Volkswagen’s supervisory board. It allegedly outlines a “radical” and “painful” restructuring that is “unprecedented in economic history.”
While details are hidden behind a paywall, Reuters said the publication mentioned four plant closures in Germany. These are said to begin in 2031 and continue into 2034.
More: 140,000 Jobs Are At Now Risk At Volkswagen
The first plants on the chopping block are reportedly Emden and Zwickau. The former opened in 1964 and employed more than 7,700 people as of last December. It builds the ID.4, ID.7, and ID.7 Tourer.
The Zwickau plant, on the other hand, employs around 8,000 people. It builds the Audi Q4 e-tron / Q4 Sportback e-tron, Cupra Born, and Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5. The facility also makes bodies for the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus.
Following the reported end of production at Emden and Zwickau in 2031, Hanover would go offline in 2032. It builds vans such as the ID. Buzz.
Last but not least, the Neckarsulm facility is rumored to close in 2034. The Audi plant employs around 15,500 people and is billed as “one of the largest employers in the Heilbronn-Franken economic region.” The facility currently makes the A5, A6, A8, and e-tron GT.
This isn’t the first time the plants have been rumored to be on the chopping block. The facilities were mentioned by Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume in an internal memo earlier this year and he reportedly said that “We still cannot confirm competitive use cases for the plants of Emden, Hanover, Zwickau, and Neckarsulm in the 2030s.”
This sparked a protest at the Neckarsulm plant this summer but it appears leadership is pushing forward with their plan for steep cuts. This will likely be met with fierce resistance from labor unions, but the automaker is facing a series of challenges including an onslaught of Chinese competitors in Europe.
