Saxony's Economics Minister Dirk Panter is responding to the crisis in the automotive industry and in particular at the VW Group with a task force in his ministry. "The task force is already being set up," the SPD politician told the "Freie Presse" (Saturday edition).
"The aim is to bring together the various players. We need to make it clearer overall that we are an automotive country, right down to the smallest detail with many medium-sized companies," said Panter. Around 60,000 people work in the supplier industry alone.
Panter: Make Saxony's voice heard in the VW Group
As VW is based in Wolfsburg and the state of Lower Saxony holds shares, the Free State with its three locations must make its voice heard "all the more", said Panter. The cost-cutting plans adopted at VW at the end of last year were placing a disproportionate burden on Saxony. "There is nothing to gloss over."
Volkswagen is struggling with sales problems. That is why the company wants to cut 35,000 jobs nationwide. Production is to be phased out at the Transparent Factory in Dresden. Production at the Zwickau e-car plant will be reduced to two Audi models. Previously, ID models and the Cupra Born were also manufactured there.
Vehicle recycling as an opportunity for a second mainstay
VW is also planning to turn Zwickau into a location for vehicle recycling. The Minister of Economic Affairs sees this as an opportunity. However, the question is how this will be implemented.
In any case, the recycling idea should only become an additional pillar. "It should only complement and not replace vehicle production, which we would like to see at a higher level now and in the future," emphasized Panter.
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