The Saxon state parliament is also dealing with Volkswagen's plans in the Free State in this week's September plenary session. The AfD parliamentary group sees a total of around 100,000 jobs in car manufacturing at risk due to weakening demand for e-cars and requested a topical debate on the matter, as Jan-Oliver Zwerg, parliamentary director of the group, said on Tuesday. The e-car has become "a bit of a slow seller" since government subsidies were scaled back, he said. "We believe that sites like Zwickau should not be operated exclusively to produce e-vehicles." The one-sided orientation threatens the entire German auto industry, including the country's old car manufacturing tradition, he said, adding that technology openness is needed.
The CDU parliamentary group warns against scaremongering. It was a decision of the company in response to the economic situation, "which we must classify accordingly," said CEO Sören Voigt. Not everything would go down the drain right away, VW had also made that clear. The clear message in the talks, also at VW headquarters, was that efficiency and production would be improved and the model policy evaluated. According to Voigt, there are "good talks" between the automaker and the state government, it is looking for ways to support.
Last week it had become known that VW is cutting jobs at the Zwickau plant because of weakening e-car demand and that 269 temporary contracts will not be extended. According to "Automobilwoche," VW is also planning to discontinue vehicle production at the Transparent Factory in Dresden. The location is to remain, the approximately 300 employees other tasks.
According to company information, a detailed package of measures for the implementation of a performance program in the passenger car division is currently being developed with open results. The site-independent agreement to safeguard jobs until 2029 remains in place unchanged.
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