Overview
- IG Metall and the VW works council said Friday that all Volkswagen sites in Germany will stay open, pushing back on closure rumors.
- They pointed to a 2024 agreement that plans to cut 35,000 jobs by 2030 without plant closures or compulsory layoffs, following pay freezes and other givebacks.
- Labor leaders said they will review new business fields or outside partnerships only if these add to, rather than replace, the existing guarantees.
- Osnabrück remains a worry as production of Porsche models there ends this year and the VW T‑Roc Cabrio ends in mid‑2027, leaving about 2,300 workers with no confirmed follow‑up order.
- Reports of interest from Chinese carmakers such as BYD and Xpeng or from defense firms are unconfirmed and reflect a broader debate over foreign roles in Germany’s auto industry.