Volkswagen's supervisory board meets on July 9 to consider eliminating up to 100,000 positions worldwide and closing four German factories, a dramatic expansion of restructuring presented by CEO Oliver Blume to the group's leadership.
The plants facing closure are Hannover, Zwickau, Emden, and Audi's Neckarsulm facility, which may receive no new vehicle assignments after current models end production. The company also plans to scrap executive bonus payments. German plant utilization stands at 81 percent in 2026 and is projected to decline further.
The proposal builds on a late-2024 union agreement to shed 35,000 German jobs, with more than 37,000 departures already agreed largely through voluntary exits. IG Metall, led by Christiane Benner, opposes the broader restructuring.