{
  "id": 5056912,
  "title": "Autoindustrie: Kretschmer: Keine Entscheidung zu VW-Werken am Freitag",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/autoindustrie-kretschmer-keine-entscheidung-zu-vw-werken-am-freitag",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-02T09:13:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/autoindustrie-kretschmer-keine-entscheidung-zu-vw-werken-am-freitag/100251335.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "German State Premier Michael Kretschmer has called for people to \"keep their nerve\" in the face of reports that Volkswagen and Audi will cease automobile production at four German sites by 2030. Kretschmer made this appeal in a Facebook video statement, adding that \"no decision will be made on Friday.\" He stressed the strength of their position at the E-Auto factory in Zwickau, stating that \"we have the arguments fully on our side. We are the most efficient plant here.\" Kretschmer described recent reports as \"quite depressing news.\" The newspaper \"Wirtschaftswoche\" reported a document from VW's executive committee for the supervisory board, stating that production in Emden and Zwickau will end in 2031, in Hannover in 2032 and at Audi's Neckarsulm plant in 2034. The board is set to meet on this issue in the coming week. Kretschmer assured that \"it's not the point at which a decision will be made on the future of Volkswagen as a whole.\" He had met with VW CEO Oliver Blume and VW supervisory board chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch in Dresden the previous week. He assured that discussions with IG Metall, the business council representative, and the plant's management had led to the need to build a \"shoulder-to-shoulder\" approach with federal policy, as well as in the company's own plants. Kretschmer emphasized that the Zwickau plant, with its current 8,000 workers, was a pioneer in Volkswagen's production of electric vehicles and was constructing a new foundation in the area of circular economy. They have a contractually guaranteed regional and employment safeguard until the end of 2030. Kretschmer stressed the need to promote their success model for the site and be confident that \"the cradle of the automotive industry in Zwickau-Mosel will remain a strong location for automotive production in the coming decades.\"",
  "summary": "Die Zukunft mehrerer VW-Standorte ist ungewiss. Laut einem Bericht soll 2031 in Zwickau und Emden Schluss sein. „Es ist noch nicht der Punkt, an dem entschieden wird“, betont Sachsens MP Kretschmer.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}