Lower Saxony government fights to save Volkswagen sites

The Lower Saxony state government has pledged to fight for the preservation of all Volkswagen production sites across Germany in response to potential factory closures. A spokesperson for Minister President Olaf Lies stated that the government will strive to protect locations not only within Lower Saxony but nationwide, specifically mentioning the importance of sites in Emden, Hannover, Zwickau, and the Audi plant in Neckarsulm.

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume has indicated that these locations currently lack a “competitive occupancy for the 2030s.” While the company is already planning to cut 50,000 jobs by 2030, there are concerns that tens of thousands of additional positions may be at risk.

The state government, which holds a 20 percent stake in Volkswagen, has expressed opposition to plans involving mass layoffs or the erosion of the “VW Law,” which grants the state significant influence over major corporate decisions. Officials are currently seeking a consensus between the company and the workforce ahead of a decisive supervisory board meeting.