Volkswagen is accelerating its restructuring with the "Vision 2030" plan aimed at making the group more sustainable, efficient and competitive, but no official decisions have yet been made on specific plant closures or additional job cuts, according to Automobilwoche.
After a long meeting of the Supervisory Board, CEO Oliver Blume and Chief Financial Officer Arnaud Antlitz presented a package of 12 initiatives aimed at simplifying the structure, reducing the model range, adapting production facilities and optimizing structures. Volkswagen plans to reduce the model range by 50% and reduce product complexity, including configuration options, by 75%, while focusing on the most attractive market segments and strengthening technological synergies across the group. Production capacities will be adjusted to the future level of about 9 million vehicles per year, which is below the pre—pandemic level of 12 million. Antlitz warned that existing cost reduction programs are no longer sufficient, given the current economic and geopolitical pressures requiring structural changes in costs, plant operations, overhead costs, and development rates.
The future of underutilized plants such as Emden, Hanover, Zwickau and Neckarsulm remains unresolved, and options range from alternative industrial use to localization of models developed in China in Europe. Blume is also pushing for greater regionalization, especially in North America, where tariffs are putting pressure on Volkswagen and Audi.
