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Volkswagen confirms elimination of 50,000 jobs worldwide

Volkswagen has announced the elimination of 50,000 jobs globally as part of an approved reorganization plan.

3 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Volkswagen confirms elimination of 50,000 jobs worldwide — Archive photoPhoto: WoodenSpoon · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Volkswagen announced on Thursday evening that it plans to eliminate 50,000 jobs worldwide over the coming years. This decision is part of a broad reorganization plan that has been unanimously approved by the supervisory board.

According to reports, the decision was made due to increasing competitive pressure and an excess of production capacity. The company estimates that 500,000 vehicles are produced in Europe each year more than needed, prompting the necessary decision to restructure its workforce.

This plan follows previous reorganizations in which another 50,000 jobs were eliminated. This means that a total of 100,000 jobs will be lost, which represents approximately 15 percent of Volkswagen's total workforce.

In addition to the job loss announcement, the future of four German factories is also threatened. Specific locations include Emden, Zwickau, and Hannover, although exact details regarding the closures have yet to be confirmed.

The consequences of this reorganization will affect several brands under Volkswagen, including Audi, Skoda, Seat, and Porsche. The company indicates that significant shifts will occur within the group, with a halving of the number of models produced.

The plans come at a time when Volkswagen is under pressure to adapt to changing vehicle demand and technological innovations. According to CEO Oliver Blume, this has led to the necessity to adjust to the 'economic reality'.

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