Volkswagen plans major layoffs, factory closures • FRANCE 24 English

Volkswagen staff have sounded the alarm over plans to slash "tens of thousands" of jobs, cut wages and close three factories across Germany. The carmaker's employee council said management had described the cost-cutting plans as necessary. If confirmed, the restructuring will mark a symbolic blow to German industry. Also in the show: FRANCE 24 reporters in Malaysia meet a former TikTok employee who has been replaced by artificial intelligence, in a controversial move by the Chinese-owned app.

[Yaahoooooo]

Days of fleecing customer with overpriced plastic is over.

[Kryssyskingdom]

Meanwhile Canada gov paying 13 Billion to VW for a plant... Sounds like an audit is needed

[martinvidenovic]

Where is big brother America to reduce taxes on VW cars and start importing them as American ones to help the ally, Germany. America only charges three times more gas, it does not help its allies.

[eugenec]

Hasn't EU imposed high tariffs on imported EVs? Are the tariffs not effective at all? Why does VW of Germany have to shut down 3 factories and cut 10, 000 jobs? What is going on?

[distantshores]

Give some more money to Ukraine. It will boost your economy. Lol

[chevroletsonice]

Energy prices hit the roof due to imposed sanctions.

[Karmic]

Deindustrialisation of EU to keep US Dollar stronger has affected Europe badly. Money flow to United state's war in Ukraine. Making enemy outnof Russia who is your cheap energy provider. Blaming AI is the best way out.

[warringtribes]

But master America is growing, HUI HUI

[eile]

Everyone strikes while the company is dying

[maydate]

VW is learning the lesson of overpricing products clients will choose the next best cheapest option.

[oldtechie]

De-risking is more important than keeping jobs in Germany.

[anny]

No cheap Russian gas, no Germany 😂😂😂😂😂. Huhuhuhu

[eXclusive]

All of those VW employees living the good life. Sorry your wages are too high.

[oceanwave]

Honest question: if Germany's best strength (automotive) can't compete with Tesla/China, what else could they even do to develop itself?

Best strength means: put a lot of efforts into it (both government and private sector), all the best talented mind work on it, strong connection between companies and research institutions, almost unlimited government support (from land tax, income tax, etc.)

And nevertheless, still lost... 😫 Is this a sign of an ill omen to come to Germany?

[joem]

in a shrinking ICE car market, there is simply far too much ICE factory capacity in every region of the world. Increasely more closures is inevitable.

[KhoaTran-xi]

Lol not like people weren't predicting this like a decade ago. So much stupidity and greed. So sad

[eliotness]

Germany is very expensive/ food/ houses/ train/ trams/ everything

[John-cro]

Germany was complicit in the destruction of its own gas supplies from Russia.

[alekseiduleba]

VW for Germany is the same as Roscosmos for Russia. Both lost a share of the market.

[lominiski]

It is not AI, it is just automation that is reducing cost and increasing productivity. Nothing new. It is like the secretary that disappeared in the 70s/80s