Kretschmer Focuses on Efficiency at the VW Plant in Zwickau

Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer is confident that the VW plant in Zwickau—which is threatened with closure—can further improve its efficiency. “We’re talking very specifically about which new vehicles can be produced,” the CDU politician said in an interview with MDR. “Volkswagen has offered that the most efficient plant in the Volkswagen Group will then be assigned this production.” The question now is whether Zwickau can pull it off. He is certain “that the people of Saxony will deliver a great deal, that they are creative, and that they are also willing to contribute.”

Rejection of Defense Production

At the same time, Saxony’s head of government once again criticized the federal government’s economic policy. “If the overall framework isn’t right—if regulations and energy costs are such a burden—then it will be difficult for us.” Kretschmer rejected alternatives for the Zwickau plant, such as a future in defense production: “We want to build vehicles. We are the cradle of the German automotive industry.”

Future of Several Plants Uncertain

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume visited the Saxon VW plant on Wednesday. Blume praised the employees’ efforts to reduce costs at the site but made no concrete statements about the site’s future. Blume reiterated that no decisions had been made regarding plant closures, but that at the same time there was still “no competitive capacity utilization for the 2030s” at the Emden, Hanover, Zwickau, and Neckarsulm sites.