By 2029, Audi Plans To Fire 7,500 Employees In Germany

In a significant move, Audi has revealed plans to reduce its workforce by 7,500 employees in Germany by the year 2029. The cuts will primarily affect positions in administration and development, reflecting the company’s strategic shift in response to evolving industry demands. This decision marks a pivotal moment for the iconic premium carmaker as it navigates the challenges of a fast-changing automotive landscape.

The planned measures, agreed by management and labour representatives, should save the automaker one billion euros ($1.1 billion) a year in the medium term, the statement said, adding that it would invest a total of 8 billion euros in its German locations over the next four years.

Audi has already cut about 9,500 manufacturing jobs since 2019, a move it said at the time should free up billions of euros to finance its shift to electric vehicles and boost margins to 9%-11%. Due to poor sales in important markets and the expense of stopping production at its Brussels plant, its operating margin decreased from 7% in the same period last year to 4.5% in the first nine months of 2024.

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