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VW Locks In 25,000 Exits as ZF Launches €500 Million Overhaul to Cut Personnel Costs

Both companies are using negotiated, dismissal‑free programs to shore up competitiveness during the powertrain transition.

Overview

  • Volkswagen says more than 25,000 departures are contractually fixed toward its goal of 35,000 fewer jobs in Germany by 2030.
  • VW reiterates that job cuts exclude dismissals, relying on early retirement and severance, with roughly 2,000 voluntary exit agreements signed and headcount down by over 11,000 since late 2023.
  • Brand chief Thomas Schäfer reports factory costs at Wolfsburg, Emden and Zwickau are down nearly 30%, and media reports say the plan targets about €1.5 billion in annual labor savings.
  • ZF Friedrichshafen has begun implementing its Division E package, with measures running from November 1 to a planned completion by February 15, 2026, including nearly 1,000 affected posts at Schweinfurt.
  • ZF’s plan features voluntary severance offers of up to two years’ salary, special age part‑time for employees 58+, a roughly 7% weekly hours reduction through 2027, deferred pay increases, and leadership insists the €500 million program is sufficient as IG Metall defends its hard‑line negotiation tactics.