Volkswagen is preparing for the largest restructuring in its 87-year history. Reports indicate the company could eliminate up to 100,000 jobs globally and shut four German manufacturing plants as it scrambles to compete in a rapidly shifting auto industry.
What VW has actually confirmed
CEO Oliver Blume has confirmed plans to reduce the workforce by approximately 19,000 positions by the end of 2026, primarily through attrition and voluntary departure programs rather than mass layoffs.
A broader target calls for cutting between 28,000 and 35,000 jobs across the company by 2030. That is the official, negotiated figure, arrived at after tense discussions with German labor unions, which hold significant power under German corporate governance rules.
Production of the iconic Volkswagen Golf is set to move to Mexico starting in 2027.
