Panter Calls for a Plan for the VW Plant in Zwickau to Be Developed Promptly

Economics Minister Dirk Panter is calling on VW’s top management to quickly present a plan for the plant in Zwickau. This shouldn’t take half a year, “but we need it soon so that we can work together,” said the SPD politician after a meeting with management and employee representatives in Zwickau.

The clear goal is to continue vehicle production at this long-standing location. “If there are alternative options, then the board must present them, but I don’t see any at the moment,” said Panter. “We’re focusing on traditional vehicle production here at this site or on the issue of China—that is, Chinese models. That’s what we’ve understood by ‘alternatives’ so far.”

In his view, a conversion to a defense manufacturing site—as was done at the VW plant in Osnabrück—is not on the table for Zwickau in the short term, Panter said. Osnabrück is a completely different location with different conditions. In Zwickau, the focus is on vehicle production.

Cost-cutting package aims to make Volkswagen future-proof

The VW supervisory board approved a comprehensive cost-cutting package last week. Group CEO Oliver Blume wants to make Europe’s largest automaker more efficient and cost-effective. To achieve this, staff cuts are planned. While the executive board and employees had already agreed in 2024 to cut 50,000 jobs by 2030, a decision has now been made to cut approximately 50,000 more. 

It remains unclear what will happen to the sites in Zwickau, Hanover, and Emden, as well as the plant of VW subsidiary Audi in Neckarsulm. According to VW executives, “no competitive follow-up use can currently be guaranteed at the four sites on a phased basis from 2031 to 2034.”