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Employees protest before the start of a works meeting in a hall at the VW plant in Wolfsburg, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. Volkswagen has announced that it will tighten its austerity measures due to the tense situation of the core brand. Redundancies and plant closures can no longer be ruled out. (Moritz Frankenberg/pool photo via AP)

As Volkswagen weighs its first closure of a German auto plant, workers aren't the only ones worried

Volkswagen is considering closing some factories in its home country for the first time in the German automaker’s 87-year history

By DAVID McHUGH
Published - Sep 08, 2024, 03:24 AM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 07:29 PM EST

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen is considering closing some factories in its home country for the first time in the German automaker's 87-year history, saying it otherwise won't meet the cost-cutting goals it needs to remain competitive.

CEO Oliver Blume also told employees Wednesday that the company must end a three-decade-old job protection pledge that would have prohibited layoffs through 2029.

The statements have stirred outrage among worker representatives and concern among German politicians.

Here are some things to know about the difficulties at one of the world’s best-known auto brands:

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