Volkswagen is intensifying its austerity drive, with brand chief Thomas Schäfer declaring that the German automaker has “absolutely no time to lose” in its efforts to restructure. The announcement came during a staff meeting at the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg on Monday, shortly after automotive workers took to the streets across Germany to protest and demand job security.
Schäfer stated that the company will significantly ramp up its performance program. Currently, approximately 16,300 redundancies in Germany have been finalized, with nearly 28,800 positions agreed upon for elimination by 2030. While Schäfer characterized these figures as “good progress,” he cautioned that they remain insufficient to meet the company’s broader strategic goals.
The push for deeper cuts follows a major announcement in early September, when Volkswagen revealed plans to eliminate a total of 100,000 jobs worldwide by the end of the decade. The carmaker is grappling with a perfect storm of challenges, including surging competition from Chinese manufacturers, high domestic energy prices, US trade tariffs, and declining demand within Germany.
Concurrently, the Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, issued a stark warning regarding the recent political shifts in Berlin. Prosor described the Left Party’s victory in Sunday’s state elections as posing a “direct existential danger” to the Jewish community in the capital. He cited rising antisemitism within the party as a primary concern, telling the DPA news agency that the party’s new status as the strongest political force grants this hostility a dangerous political dimension.
Elif Eralp, the Left Party’s leading candidate who may become Berlin’s governing mayor, responded by asserting that the vast majority of her party supports the protection of Jewish life. Speaking at an event organized by the Jewish Community in Berlin, Eralp acknowledged that while antisemitism exists within her party, it is also a prevalent issue in society at large.
In related developments, the conservative bloc led by Friedrich Merz is hosting a conference to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of the Federal Republic. Meanwhile, the Ruhr city of Essen is currently hosting Eudex, a new defense industry trade fair featuring 350 exhibitors from 28 countries, highlighting ongoing security concerns across Europe.
Thomas Schäfer sounds desperate. No time to lose while Chinese EVs take over? Tough times for German industry indeed.
Wait, does the article connect Volkswagen layoffs to antisemitism concerns in Berlin? That jumps from autos to politics very abruptly.
VW really thinks 100,000 cuts is enough? I doubt it. The protest energy in Wolfsburg shows how angry workers actually are right now.