Former CEO Herbert Diess highlights VW's need to improve productivity and efficiency, as sales of electric vehicles remain low. The core brand's profitability is weak, leading to a proposed cut of 30,000 jobs, which faced criticism.
The termination of job security has sparked resistance from the works council and union, with potential plant closures now being considered. Diess discusses the challenges faced by the German auto industry, including production costs and productivity.
VW's cost-cutting measures have caused concerns among suppliers and the wider automotive industry. The announcement of possible job cuts and plant closures has led to financial difficulties for some suppliers.
The state of Thuringia has experienced the repercussions, with one automotive supplier already facing insolvency. The Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, who sits on VW's supervisory board, expects no plant closures to occur.
Minister Hubertus Heil calls on crisis-hit companies like Thyssenkrupp and VW to avoid layoffs and secure their locations.
