The country\u2019s carmakers are scaling back production amid high energy costs, US tariffs and Chinese competition<\/p>\n
Tens of thousands of auto workers across Germany have staged protests demanding protection for employment and factories after Volkswagen announced plans to cut 100,000 jobs.
\nEmployees at Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, and major suppliers are taking part in more than 280 actions nationwide on Monday. Germany\u2019s largest industrial union, IG Metall, has warned that the country\u2019s automotive industry \u201cfaces the risk of total collapse\u201d as it grapples with high energy costs following reduced imports of Russian oil and gas, US tariffs, and growing competition from China.
\n\u201dWe expect corporate leaders and management teams to take responsibility for Germany as an automotive nation, for employees and for jobs,\u201d IG Metall chief Christiane Benner told workers at Volkswagen\u2019s headquarters in Wolfsburg.<\/p>\n
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Europe\u2019s biggest carmaker to shed 100,000 jobs in historic overhaul<\/p>\n
Volkswagen\u2019s planned reductions include some 50,000 previously announced cuts across its brands and another 50,000 under a new agreement. The company also slashed its 2026 operating-margin forecast on Friday to no more than 1%, citing weakness in China, restructuring costs, and problems at Porsche.
\nOther German carmakers are also scaling back. BMW is cutting about 8,000 jobs, while Mercedes-Benz is reducing production at home and expanding capacity in lower-cost Hungary.
\nThe industrial contraction extends beyond layoffs. Volkswagen ended car production at its Dresden plant last December, marking the first closure of a German car factory in the company\u2019s 90-year history.
\nThe automaker has also dropped out of the Euro Stoxx 50 for the first time in 15 years, with its shares down more than 75% from their 2021 peak. By contrast, shares in German defense giant Rheinmetall have soared over 1,100% since the start of 2022 as Berlin boosts military spending.<\/p>\n
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Volkswagen car plant to be converted for Israeli arms production<\/p>\n
Parts of the automotive sector are also turning to defense. Volkswagen\u2019s Osnabr\u00fcck plant, where car production is due to end next year, is set to shift toward military manufacturing, with Israeli arms maker Rafael lined up to produce air-defense systems and components. Mercedes-Benz has also explored opportunities in the sector.
\nGermany has budgeted \u20ac108.2 billion ($124 billion) for defense this year, with spending set to rise further under Chancellor Friedrich Merz\u2019s drive to build what he has called Europe\u2019s strongest conventional army.
\nMoscow has criticized the buildup. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that NATO had moved beyond supporting Ukraine and was now \u201copenly\u201d discussing preparations for war with Russia while increasing military budgets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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