Politicians see home-made problems for problems at VW

Following the announced job cuts at Volkswagen in Zwickau, politicians from various parties have criticized the company's management. Those responsible at VW must take a critical look at their work, warned SPD member of parliament Carlos Kasper on Thursday. "Because we also see: things are going better at other electric car manufacturers in Germany." Reasons for the sales problems sees the FDP deputy Torsten autumn in the model policy: "Unlike BMW, for example, Volkswagen relies exclusively on battery electric vehicles for its drives and thus makes itself dependent solely on the demand for E-cars."

Obviously, not all new E-cars from Volkswagen are so attractive that they are in high demand in Germany and Europe, Herbst stated. The sales difficulties could not be justified with the reduced government purchase premium. CDU member of parliament Carsten Körber, on the other hand, had spoken of an "ideological policy of the traffic light coalition" as the cause of the misery and referred to the reduced subsidy. E-cars are also no longer affordable for many people because of the expensive price of electricity.

Zwickau's mayor Constance Arndt (Citizens for Zwickau) continues to see Volkswagen as a "reliable partner for the region." "I am sure that the company is pursuing a responsible human resources policy," she explained when asked. For the employees affected, she said, the move is a blow. But they would have a good chance of finding an alternative in the region. Regional companies, for which the shortage of skilled workers has become a serious problem, could now benefit.

"Electric vehicles remain absolutely essential for achieving the climate targets in the transport sector," stressed Saxony's Minister for Energy and Climate Protection, Wolfram Günther (Greens). This is the direction VW and the automotive industry have taken worldwide, he said. "Now it is a matter of ensuring fair competitive conditions internationally."