Volkswagen’s Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz has warned that four German manufacturing sites lack economically viable production plans once their current product cycles end in the early 2030s. The assessment was delivered during a visit to the Hanover plant ahead of a scheduled board meeting this week.
Antlitz highlighted a permanent cost disadvantage of approximately €1.5 billion per year if Volkswagen continues operating all German facilities without reducing excess capacity. The disparity between German plants and other European sites was identified as the primary challenge, making it difficult to sustain operations under current conditions.
Plant closures remain a last-resort option for the company, according to Volkswagen. The automaker emphasized that protecting jobs and industrial value creation at its sites, including Hanover, remains a priority. No immediate decisions on closures have been confirmed, and Volkswagen stated it would pursue all available measures to avoid such outcomes.
