Lower Saxony in the VW position: 35,000 jobs in danger!

Lower Saxony in the VW position: 35,000 jobs in danger!

Wolfsburg, Deutschland - On June 12, 2025, Lower Saxony is the focus of a worrying change in the automotive industry. The newly elected Prime Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) warned of difficult times, especially due to the planned job cuts at Volkswagen (VW). Lies, who took office on May 20, was sent directly to the Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group and personally took note of the news about massive personnel reductions. Lower Saxony, which holds around 20 percent of voting rights at VW, will feel the consequences of the mining.

Volkswagen plans to delete 35,000 jobs of a total of 130,000 jobs in Germany by 2030. This means that almost every fourth place is affected. Around 20,000 resignations have already been contractually fixed, as HR board Gunnar Kilian announced in a works meeting in Wolfsburg. The situation is not only alarming for those concerned, but also for the entire state, in which around 340,000 jobs depend directly or indirectly on the automotive industry. Reads the location of the suppliers as "alarm sign" and highlights the pressure, which is particularly exposed to small and medium -sized companies.

job cuts and its effects

The desired job cuts are largely realized via early retirement and severance payments. A severance payment program has already been introduced for office jobs, where employees can receive up to 400,000 euros. Particularly noteworthy is the planned introduction of a severance payment program for production employees who can expect it from summer 2026. However, operational terminations are excluded, which offers a certain level of security for those affected.

In addition, the introduction of a four-day week for the Wolfsburg plant from 2027 will be discussed. This measure is related to the relocation of golf production to Mexico and the conversion of the works for the production of electric vehicles. However, works council chairman Daniela Cavallo has expressed concerns that there may not be enough work for such a regulation. At the moment it is important for employees to fill up their working time accounts to create a financial buffer.

The role of politics

Olaf Lies pointed out that the preservation of the works and the stability of the jobs are decisive. In his role as Prime Minister, he emphasized the need to preserve the automotive value chain in Germany. The new models and the current coalition agreement of the federal government could possibly have positive impulses for e-mobility, which in turn could stabilize the situation of the supplier and the entire sector.

Volkswagen pursues the goal of being competitive and sustainable by 2029. However, the challenge of shaping the future -oriented transformation could become the central task for the new Lower Saxony state government. While Lies demands a concentrated work by VW boss Oliver Blume, who also leads Porsche, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the long term.

In this context, the situation at Volkswagen is not only an entrepreneurial, but also a social topic that could have far -reaching consequences for many employees in Lower Saxony. The coming months will be decisive for how the job cuts and transformation of the automotive industry will have an impact on people and the economy in the region.

For further information, visit the articles by FAZ , Tagesschau .