The Volkswagen plant in Osnabrück is set for a sale. The parent company announced that on Monday, they had discussions with the state of Lower Saxony and Aurelius Capital regarding the potential sale of Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH. The goal of this transaction is to ensure the long-term survival of the site. The plan is for Aurelius, in conjunction with the state of Lower Saxony, to acquire Volkswagen Osnabrück GmbH as the majority owner.
Aurelius and Lower Saxony plan to develop the location over the coming years into a “center of competence for security and defense solutions.” The initial anchor project involves a collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which focuses on the potential manufacturing of systems and components for air defense for both Germany and Europe. The workforce in Osnabrück is expected to play a “central role” in establishing this manufacturing base.
Volkswagen had previously decided in 2024 to phase out vehicle production at the Osnabrück site in summer 2027. The company stated its intention to “accompany” the transition into the new corporate structure and to contribute its “industrial experience, its competence in development and industrialization, and the existing infrastructure” to this ongoing process.
Olaf Lies, the Minister President of Lower Saxony (SPD), stated, “With this agreement, we are opening a genuine industrial opportunity for Osnabrück.” He noted that the site possesses highly qualified employees, established structures, and extensive experience in demanding tasks. He also added that “our security situation and our need for protection have fundamentally changed.” Given that Germany and Europe must strengthen their capabilities and become more self-reliant, “Lower Saxony aims to contribute to ensuring that this generates value creation and stable employment. Osnabrück can play an important role in this endeavor.”
