More than 10,000 Volkswagen workers gathered at the company’s Wolfsburg plant on Tuesday to voice opposition to potential closures amid ongoing restructuring discussions. Labor leader Daniela Cavallo, addressing the extraordinary assembly, emphasized the integral role of German factories within the Volkswagen Group, stating that 'The German factories belong to the Volkswagen Group. They are an integral part.'
Cavallo also expressed diminished confidence in the executive board, including CEO Oliver Blume, noting that 'Our trust in this company's executive board, and especially in its CEO Oliver Blume, has been damaged. Not yet beyond repair, but damaged nonetheless.' Blume, present at the event, defended the need for cost reductions, citing insufficient current margins to finance future investments. He reiterated that plant closures would be a last resort and the most expensive option available to the company.
The CEO outlined plans to prioritize voluntary staffing measures as part of the restructuring effort. He also set a timeline for stabilizing German operations, aiming to establish robust perspectives for the plants within the next six to 12 months. The assembly follows Volkswagen’s announcement of broader restructuring initiatives aimed at improving competitiveness amid shifting market dynamics and rising production costs.
