Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has blamed the actions of the federal government for the crisis at Volkswagen. VW is the victim of a completely misguided economic policy, he wrote in the short message service X. In other European countries, where there are still purchase premiums for e-cars, electromobility is showing a completely different dynamic. "The German government's role backwards has harmed Volkswagen and caused great uncertainty." The federal government abruptly canceled its purchase premium for e-cars at the end of 2023. As a result, demand for such vehicles collapsed.
Volkswagen has three sites in Saxony in Zwickau, Chemnitz and Dresden with around 11,000 employees. Many have been fearing for their jobs since Volkswagen announced compulsory redundancies and even plant closures. The plant in Zwickau is a pioneer in the production of e-cars within the Group. An extraordinary works meeting was planned there on Thursday afternoon. Kretschmer was positive about the prospects for the site: "This lead plant for electromobility will become even more important in the coming years."
