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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Economy & Trade

Volkswagen Board Approves Plan to Cut Another 50,000 Jobs

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Approved/passed
  • Volkswagen’s board approved an additional reduction of about 50,000 positions, bringing planned job cuts across the group to 100,000 by 2030.
  • The German automaker said the restructuring will lower costs and address falling profits, weaker sales, competition from Chinese brands, changing demand and technological shifts.
  • The cuts represent the largest restructuring in Volkswagen’s nearly 90-year history; the group employed more than 660,000 people worldwide in 2025.

Volkswagen is preparing to eliminate another 50,000 jobs in a restructuring that the company says is needed to protect its competitiveness. Combined with cuts announced in March, the plan would reduce the group’s workforce by 100,000 positions by 2030.

strong signal

· Oliver BlumeVolkswagen’s chief executive described the additional job cuts as a signal for the company’s future.

The German carmaker, which includes Audi, Porsche, Skoda and the Volkswagen brand, has faced falling profits as sales weaken and competition intensifies, particularly from Chinese manufacturers. It also plans to focus on its “most compelling vehicles” and produce more of each model to reduce costs.

Chief Executive Oliver Blume described the decision as a “strong signal” for Volkswagen’s future and said the company was “taking responsibility for our entire workforce.” The company said a fundamental adjustment to its global workforce capability was necessary as demand and technology change.

taking responsibility for our entire workforce

· Oliver BlumeBlume used the phrase while defending the restructuring plan.

The reductions will include management roles and mark the biggest restructuring in Volkswagen’s almost nine-decade history. Christiane Benner, president of Europe’s largest industrial union IG Metall and deputy chair of Volkswagen’s supervisory board, said the company had “fought hard for good solutions” in response to a crisis.

most compelling vehicles

· VolkswagenThe company said it would prioritize these vehicles and increase production of each model to reduce costs.

Volkswagen employed more than 660,000 people worldwide in 2025.

fought hard for good solutions

· Christiane BennerThe IG Metall president and Volkswagen supervisory board deputy chair described efforts to address the company’s crisis.
About this summary

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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