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Volkswagen board members express existential threat fears in anonymous survey
🇵🇱 Poland /Economy & Trade

Volkswagen board members express existential threat fears in anonymous survey

From Rzeczpospolita · () Polish

Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • An anonymous survey of Volkswagen board members revealed deep concerns about the company's future.
  • Six out of nine board members believe the company's existence is threatened, with none describing the situation as stable.
  • The survey also highlighted disagreements on the company's business model and future direction, particularly concerning the Chinese and North American markets.

An internal, anonymous survey among Volkswagen's board members has exposed significant unease regarding the automotive giant's current situation and future prospects. The survey, conducted by an external consulting firm and shared with the supervisory board in April, indicates that a majority of leadership perceives the company as being in a precarious state.

In the assessment of 6 out of 9 members of the Volkswagen board, the concern is that the concern is 'threatened in its existence'.

— Manager MagazinReporting on the results of an anonymous survey of Volkswagen board members.

Out of the nine board members surveyed, six expressed the view that Volkswagen is "threatened in its existence." The remaining three described the situation as "tense." Crucially, not a single board member characterized the company's standing as stable. This widespread sentiment suggests a deep-seated concern about the company's long-term viability and strategic direction.

The survey results also pointed to internal divisions. All board members acknowledged that the company's business model is currently unprofitable. Furthermore, there are significant strategic disagreements concerning the company's approach to the crucial markets of China and North America. The findings revealed that leaders of VW brands, including Audi, Seat, Cupra, and Skoda, do not concur on the future path forward. Four board members indicated disagreement within the management board, while another four suggested that agreement exists "in principle," with no one reporting full unanimity.

All board members admitted that the business model of the concern is unprofitable.

— Manager MagazinDescribing the financial outlook based on the internal survey.

These revelations come at a critical time for Volkswagen, as the company faces declining profits and ongoing restructuring efforts that include significant job cuts. The net profit for the first quarter of 2026 reportedly fell by 28.4% year-on-year. The company plans to eliminate 19,000 jobs in Germany by the end of this year and over 28,000 by 2030. Additionally, Volkswagen is considering the closure of several of its plants in Germany and an Audi factory in Neckarsulm.

4 board members indicated disagreement within the management board, and 4 others chose the answer of agreement 'in principle'.

— Manager MagazinHighlighting internal divisions within Volkswagen's leadership.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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