Overview
- Thousands of employees gathered at the Wolfsburg works assembly, where works council chief Daniela Cavallo and VW brand head Thomas Schäfer spoke, and CEO Oliver Blume offered brief remarks.
- VW presented the silhouette of the all‑electric Golf 9 and said current Golf production will shift to Mexico in 2027 to free the plant for EV manufacturing, with the electric successor slated to start in Wolfsburg by decade’s end.
- Cavallo criticized the board for postponing a recognition bonus for tariff employees, saying an external legal opinion was cited to avoid influencing the imminent works council vote.
- Calling for tighter central oversight, Cavallo urged headquarters to rein in brand “solo runs” at subsidiaries such as Audi and Porsche to enforce common goals and capture group synergies.
- Reiterating employment assurances, Cavallo said site closures and forced dismissals are excluded under a 2024 agreement, as separate reports point to roughly €60 billion in savings and a plan to reduce about 35,000 roles by 2030 on a socially compatible basis.