VW extends summer break in Emden: E-car production is at great risk!

VW extends summer break in Emden: E-car production is at great risk!

There is currently a tense atmosphere at Volkswagen in Emden. The company has extended the summer holidays for its employees by a whopping nine days, which is undoubtedly causing quite a stir. Loud news38 The reason for this is the weakening demand for the popular electric SUV ID.4 in important markets such as Italy, Belgium and South Korea. The production break at the Emden plant will now last from July 10th to August 12th.

Factory spokesman Wolfgang Sebastian confirmed that the adjustment of the production program was necessary because the market situation for the ID.4 and ID.7 models is considered “very fragile”. The numbers speak for themselves: According to reports from vehicle operation Overall, demand for electric vehicles has fallen by almost 30 percent below the originally planned production figures. The situation is extremely worrying and could be a signal for the entire industry.

Impact on the workforce

For the workforce in Emden, this not only means extended factory holidays, but also serious uncertainty. The works council has already announced that further closure days will not be ruled out until the end of the year. Although most employees have well-filled working time accounts, some could end up in the red if the days lost are not compensated. In addition, around 300 of 1,500 temporary workers will no longer be employed, raising additional concerns.

In the interests of production, VW has canceled the late shift for the production of the ID.4 and the ID.7 electric sedan. Many employees are therefore unsure about the company's next steps. However, the production of combustion models such as the Passat remains unchanged. Economics Minister Olaf Lies expressed concerns and emphasized the need for new purchasing incentives, for example in the form of a reduced VAT, to stimulate demand.

Market and future of electromobility

If you look at the big picture, you can see that although Volkswagen sold a record number of around 770,000 electric cars in 2023, current sales figures have plummeted. Experts criticize the political framework in Germany, which leads to this uncertainty among customers. daily news reports that the abruptly ended e-car bonus at the end of 2023 contributed to this.

CEO Oliver Blume is calling for binding regulations and measures to support charging infrastructure and competitive prices for e-models in order not to endanger the transition to electromobility. While VW plans to develop new models that will appeal to younger buyers, experts warn of the challenges posed by increasing competition, particularly from China.

Overall, a picture of uncertainty emerges for VW in Emden, which affects both the company and the entire industry. It remains to be hoped that measures will be taken to make the necessary change more permanent and to secure the employment situation - including in the factories.