Overview

• The supervisory board removed Gunnar Kilian with immediate effect, citing irreconcilable differences over the governance of participation companies and his loss of works council support.
• The decision is entwined with Volkswagen’s plan to cut 35,000 jobs by 2030 under the December cost-saving agreement with IG Metall.
• Under Germany’s co-determination laws, the works council’s backing is crucial for executive appointments, and its withdrawal sealed Kilian’s fate.
• Lower Saxony’s prime minister, Olaf Lies, representing a significant VW shareholder, expressed regret and acknowledged Kilian’s contributions to the automaker’s transformation.
• IG Metall chair Christiane Benner has prioritized the search for a permanent successor who can effectively mediate between management and labor interests.