Volkswagen Boss Said No Going Back On Plan To Close Factories In Germany

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schaefer said the company still plans to close factories in Germany even though the union voted to go on strike in early December.

“We have to reduce our capacities and adapt to the new reality,” Šefer told the “Welt” newspaper. Planned cost reductions will include plants for producing automotive parts and engines.

When asked whether “Volkswagen” could give up closing factories, Šefer said that they currently do not see such a possibility. He added that he does not rule out handing out dismissals, since reducing the number of employees through retirement and severance payments “will not be enough” and would take too long.

Šefer believes that the company’s reorganisation should be completed within three to four years. “It makes no sense to postpone the restructuring until 2035. The competition would have left us behind by then,” he said.

The goal is for “Volkswagen” to return to mass-produced car models; according to Šefer, it will be necessary to put the company on a stable economic foundation.

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