Volkswagen restructuring threatens up to 140,000 jobs across Europe

Volkswagen announced a sweeping restructuring program that could eliminate as many as 140,000 positions across its global operations, with the most immediate impact on plants in Germany. The company warned that if cost‑reduction targets are not met, an additional 50,000 jobs may be cut beyond the 90,000 already slated for removal by 2030. plant closures and production cuts are expected at sites in Emden, Hanover, Zwickau and Neckarsulm, while suppliers in Austria’s Vorarlberg region, Slovenia’s automotive base, Croatia’s Boxmark Leather, Spain’s Seat plant in Martorell, and Czech‑based factories also face uncertain futures. The crisis is linked to falling demand for internal‑combustion vehicles, competition from Chinese manufacturers, high production costs and the shift to electric models. Volkswagen also plans to trim its model lineup sharply, withdrawing up to 50 % of models and 75 % of variants by 2030, with several VW, Audi and Porsche models already earmarked for discontinuation. The restructuring comes despite the group posting a €2.5 billion profit in the first quarter, highlighting the pressure to stay competitive while preserving employment in Europe’s auto sector.