‘Don’t balance your books with our jobs’: Furious Volkswagen workers jeer boss over cuts in Germany

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume warned workers at his company's Wolfsburg factory that more job cuts may be necessary, prompting jeers and boos from the crowd. The crisis-hit automaker is considering cost-cutting measures across its 10 brands, with up to 100,000 job losses worldwide. Blume emphasized that the majority of required adjustments could occur in Germany, potentially costing the company €1.5 billion annually if they persisted.

The carmaker's struggles include competition from Chinese automakers, US tariffs, and declining demand in Europe for its electric vehicles. Unions have accused Volkswagen of withholding information from workers, accusing management of breaking trust. The IG Metall union leader advocated for alternative cost-cutting measures, while acknowledging the challenges posed by Chinese competition and US tariffs.