Volkswagen could cut 50,000 jobs as board approves turnaround plan

Volkswagen’s VWAGY supervisory board on Thursday unanimously approved a comprehensive transformation plan that could include cutting the group’s workforce by around 50,000 jobs, including management positions, as the automaker seeks to improve competitiveness.

The “Future Plan,” presented by Volkswagen’s management board and approved at a supervisory board meeting, is designed to make the Volkswagen Group and its brands more efficient, more competitive and better positioned for the future, the company said in a statement.

Volkswagen said a further fundamental adjustment to global workforce levels was necessary, in addition to existing programmes, to achieve the goals of the transformation initiative and safeguard the group’s competitiveness.

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The company did not provide further details on the timing of the workforce reduction or how the cuts would be distributed across its brands and regions.

The company cited increasing global competitive pressure, changing demand patterns and technological change in the automotive industry as reasons for the planned measures.