Volkswagen reportedly plans 100,000 job cuts
Volkswagen reportedly plans to cut around 100,000 jobs — about 15% of its global workforce — and close several German plants including Hanover, Zwickau, Emden, and the Audi plant in Neckarsulm. The move would be the largest restructuring in the company's 89-year history. The cuts stem from weak EV demand, the end of German EV subsidies in 2023, pressure from cheaper Chinese rivals, and US tariffs. The plan would break a late-2024 agreement with unions that promised no deeper cuts or plant closures before 2030. IG Metall and the General Works Council have vowed to fight the plan, and the state of Lower Saxony — a major shareholder — adds political weight to the opposition. The situation reflects broader struggles across Europe's auto industry as the EV transition stalls and competition intensifies.
