VW in Wolfsburg: Special shifts start to cope with demand!

VW in Wolfsburg: Special shifts start to cope with demand!

In the coming weeks, numerous special shifts are scheduled at the VW plant in Wolfsburg. Starting after the factory holidays until the end of September, the main plant will be running at full speed in order to meet the sharp increase in demand for combustion engine models such as the Tiguan, Tayron and Touran. Loud News38 Employees should top up their working time accounts through overtime in order to cushion production declines in the future.

Since the beginning of the year, Volkswagen has regularly introduced special shifts at the main plant. The assembly lines are particularly affected, where it was decided in close cooperation between company management and the works council that all four lines would work additional shifts. These measures can be observed primarily in the T lines that produce the Tiguan. There are even Saturday and Sunday shifts here, while the Golf assembly lines also work additional hours on weekends.

The flexibility of the main plant

Wolfsburg therefore remains a central location for production at Volkswagen. The flexibility of the factory is loud The shareholder crucial for the long-term planning of the company. It is said that the additional working hours will help employees stabilize their working hours and salaries, especially in light of upcoming challenges such as the planned end of Golf production in 2027. A possible four-day week is conceivable in order to make working time strategies flexible.

In comparison, other plants in Germany, such as the one in Emden, record lower demand and therefore have extended plant holidays. This clearly shows how different the production situations are within the group. While production runs almost continuously in Wolfsburg, the teams at other locations sometimes have to take longer breaks.

Market shares and challenges

The development at the Wolfsburg plant is not only important for the workforce. Volkswagen is also watching developments on the markets with concern. In the first quarter of 2023, sales figures for VW's core brand rose by around five percent compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, challenges are emerging, particularly in the area of ​​electromobility, where VW risks falling behind in China. However, the company is aiming to expand its market share in both combustion engines and electric cars.

Overall, the Wolfsburg plant is an important part of Volkswagen's strategy. The high pressure to adapt due to different demands in the factories shows once again how flexibly the company management must react to market conditions. The coming special shifts will be a test for employees and management, but it is clear that preparations for future challenges must continue unceasingly.