VW anniversary in Emden: Zwickau is fighting for survival!

VW anniversary in Emden: Zwickau is fighting for survival!

The Volkswagen Group continues to set ambitious goals in the automotive industry. The Emden plant celebrated a significant milestone: the production of the 1.5 millionth electric vehicle. At the same time, this positive news casts a shadow over the Zwicker plant, which is in a tense situation. In Zwickau, where the electric car boom once began, many employees feel disadvantaged. The relocation of models, including the ID.4 to Emden and the ID.3 and Cupra Born to Wolfsburg, is causing dissatisfaction. Only two Audi models remain in Zwickau, which increases concerns about the future prospects of the location. As News38 reports, decisive decisions are to be made for the future of the plants in the coming period, with the closure of a complete production line having already been decided.

The mood in Zwickau is tense. The plant is under pressure, not only from internal decisions, but above all from the challenges of structural change in the automotive industry. The increasing sales figures for electric cars bring new hope, but the unclear model strategy and political uncertainties are putting a significant strain on the location. According to information from Zwickauer, night shifts are already being cut and the company's target for 2024 has been reduced from originally over 300,000 vehicles to around 204,000.

Job losses and insecurity

With production declining sharply, the workforce also faces bleak prospects. Of around 11,000 jobs in Zwickau, only 8,500 are to be retained, and that is causing considerable uncertainty. This particularly affects employees with fixed-term employment contracts. Up to 2,800 such contracts could soon be eliminated. This situation not only impacts employees, but also the regional economy. Suppliers and logistics companies are suffering due to production cuts and the unemployment rate in the Zwickau district has already risen to 6%, as Deutschlandfunk found.

The Saxon state government has recognized that urgent measures are necessary to secure the location. There are proposals to convert the plant into a center for circular economy and battery recycling. This shows how important it is to find innovative solutions to secure the future of the location. But with the transformation of electronics production already underway and possible relocations overseas, it remains to be seen which options are actually feasible. A good hand is required here to master this change and to offer the region a perspective.

The region needs a commitment

The necessary policy measures could help allay workers' concerns. Emden sees the need to get a clear commitment from Volkswagen to the location. The Mayor has emphasized the need for this support while keeping an eye on the challenges at other manufacturing sites. VW employees in Zwickau are frustrated by the high workloads and the uncertainty that their contract situation entails.

The rapid transformation within the automotive industry does not only pose challenges for VW. The industry as a whole faces the risk of significant job losses associated with the shift to electric motors. A comprehensive strategy for the automotive industry to support jobs and further development is therefore required. Only with decisive measures can the future of the automotive industry in Germany be positively influenced and jobs secured.