Despite significant profit declines and a plan to cut 50,000 jobs, Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume remains committed to keeping the company’s German site, while demanding radical productivity gains. Speaking to “Bild am Sonntag”, Blume said that excess capacity worldwide is under scrutiny. He pointed out that global markets have shifted so dramatically that the old model of designing, building and exporting cars from Germany no longer works, and that the different regions have grown too distinct to support this approach.
Blume confirmed the target of socially responsible job cuts of around 50,000 positions in Germany by 2030. When asked about potential factory closures, he added that the company will continue to evaluate capacities in the future. Overcapacity costs money, so factories are now linked to clear cost‑control targets-a strategy that applies not only to Germany and Europe but also to China.
According to Blume, “Made in Germany” will still pay off, but the cost structure, including wages, has risen. He insisted this must be offset by higher productivity. He also criticized current political conditions, citing excessively high energy prices and regulatory burdens.
Even amid the crisis, Blume sees bright spots: order books have risen sharply and products are well received. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the restructuring will continue. � “The restructuring continues” he told “Bild am Sonntag”.
