Volkswagen and its powerful labour unions agreed to cut 30,000 jobs at the core VW brand in exchange for avoiding forced redundancies in Germany until 2025, a compromise which leaves the carmaker’s profitability still lagging rivals.
The turnaround plan announced yesterday will lead to €3.7 billion in annual efficiency gains and lift the VW brand’s operating margin to four per cent by 2020, from an expected two per cent this year.
That target still remains below rival European carmakers such as Renault and Peugeot Citroen, which are targeting an operating margin of six per cent in 2021.
Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automaker is trying to increase savings at its biggest business in its home base of Germany, where its costs are high.
It must also find billions of euros to pay fines and settlements stemming from its diesel emissions cheating scandal as well as fund a strategic shift towards electric and self-drive cars.
Volkswagen’s labour leaders said management had agreed to avoid forced redundancies in Germany until 2025 a step which clears the path to cutting 23,000 jobs via buyouts, early retirements and by reducing part-time staff.
Jobs will also be cut in North America, Brazil and Argentina, VW said, without being more specific. Around 114,000 employees work for VW brand in Germany.
Labour leaders agreed to the cuts in exchange for a management pledge to create new 9,000 new jobs in the area of electric cars, mainly at factories in Germany.
Labour leaders were pleased with the outcome.
“The most important message is the jobs of the core workforce is secure,” Volkswagen’s powerful works council chief Bernd Osterloh said at a news conference in Wolfsburg.
“We have agreed that forced redundancies are ruled out until end 2025. When I see what is going on at other companies, this is a big success in difficult times,” Osterloh said.
Volkswagen will build electric cars at its factories in Zwickau and Wolfsburg. Electric motors will be built in Kassel, and VW will start battery cell production and development in Salzgitter. Volkswagen will also build battery packs for electric and hybrid cars at its plant in Braunschweig, the company said.