Volkswagen's employee council says the automaker plans to close at least 3 German plants

The caput of Volkswagen's useful assembly says nan institution has informed worker representatives that it wants to adjacent astatine slightest 3 plants successful Germany

BERLIN -- Volkswagen has informed worker representatives that it wants to adjacent astatine slightest 3 plants successful Germany, nan caput of nan company's useful assembly said Monday.

Employee assembly main Daniela Cavallo said astatine a gathering pinch Volkswagen workers astatine nan company's Wolfsburg office that guidance besides plans cuts astatine different sites, and pledged to defy nan plans, German news agency dpa reported. She said that “all German VW plants are affected by these plans. None is safe."

There was nary contiguous remark from nan institution itself.

Volkswagen said successful early September that car manufacture headwinds mean it can’t norm retired works closures successful its location country, and must driblet a occupation protection promise successful unit since 1994 that would person barred layoffs done 2029. CEO Oliver Blume cited caller competitors entering European markets, Germany’s deteriorating position arsenic a manufacturing location and nan request to “act decisively.”

European automakers are facing accrued title from inexpensive Chinese electrical cars. Volkswagen said past period that nan company’s half-year results indicated it would not execute its target of 10 cardinal euros ($10.8 billion) successful costs savings by 2026.

Volkswagen has immoderate 120,000 labor successful Germany, wherever it has 10 plants — six of them successful nan bluish authorities of Lower Saxony, including Wolfsburg.

The IG Metall business national sharply criticized VW's reported closure plans. “We expect that, alternatively of cutback fantasies, sustainable concepts for nan early beryllium sketched retired by Volkswagen and its guidance astatine nan negotiating table,” location national leader Thorsten Gröger said.

Pay negotiations betwixt Volkswagen and nan national are owed to resume connected Wednesday.