Volkswagen plans to cut 100,000 jobs

BarcelonaThe Volkswagen Group foresees more layoffs. If last March the company announced that it would cut around 50,000 jobs in Germany, the German media Manager Magazin reported this Friday that the group plans to reduce 100,000 workers worldwide in the next five years. In addition, the group also has in mind closing up to four plants in the Germanic country – Hannover, Zwickau, Emden, and Neckarsulm – and reducing its investments by 15%, to approximately 130 billion euros. Currently, Volkswagen's workforce is around 625,000 employees. Thus, if the staff reduction goes ahead, it could affect one in six employees of the Wolfsburg company.

When consulted by ARA, sources close to the group explain that they "would be mistaken" if they thought the impact would be limited to Germany and explain that they are working "for whatever may happen". According to Europa Press, the company has indicated that these matters "will be discussed in the relevant committees" and has avoided preempting the process. However, it acknowledges that both the automotive sector and the group "are undergoing a profound transformation".

Evolve

"The board of directors has stated on several occasions that our current business model no longer works for all brands: developing cars in Germany, manufacturing them in Europe, and exporting them to the rest of the world," the group expressed, adding that if they want to continue "being successful" in this context, they must "evolve." "The entire group must significantly increase its competitiveness," the German firm added.

In 2025, the German automotive group earned 6,904 million euros, 44.3% less than the 12,394 million of the previous year. Total sales fell by 0.8%, to 321,913 million, while operating results were 19,060 million, 53.5% less than in 2024. The impact of Donald Trump's tariffs, the Middle East conflict, and the arrival of Chinese cars are currently transforming the automotive market.