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Scandal at VW: Kunstmann resigns – serious mistakes admitted!
Uwe Kunstmann, head of the VW Zwickau works council, unexpectedly resigns after a traffic accident. Reasons for resignation and consequences.
Scandal at VW: Kunstmann resigns – serious mistakes admitted!
In Duisternis to the light: Volkswagen Sachsen has taken a surprising turn that has made the workforce and the entire automotive world sit up and take notice. Uwe Kunstmann, the head of the works council, and Kristin Oder, the deputy head of the works council, are both resigning. Loud News38 Kunstmann's resignation was announced on September 5, 2025 in a letter to employees.
Kunstmann justified his resignation with “serious personal mistakes” that are directly related to a traffic accident in July. In an informal conversation, he said that his misconduct was private and had nothing to do with his professional duties. Nevertheless, he admits that he had endangered others and described his actions as “wrong and irresponsible” – a shame that is palpably on his mind Radio Dresden holds on.
The accident and its consequences
The traffic accident in question occurred on July 12, 2025, when Kunstmann became conspicuous during a traffic stop and, heavily intoxicated and unruly, fled from the police. His car had previously rammed a stair railing. The incident led to charges of endangering road traffic and unhygienic behavior when taking blood. His blood alcohol level was reportedly over 1.1 per mille, underscoring the severity of the situation. This incident is the reason for Kunstmann's resignation, who will remain in his office until the end of September in order to ensure an orderly transition, as well as the Picture emphasized.
Kristin Oder, the deputy boss, announced that she would be stepping down in the middle of the month in order to reorient herself professionally. IG Metall is now under pressure to appoint successors to the two resigned members by October. The next works council election at Volkswagen Saxony is scheduled for January.
The challenges in Zwickau
The resignations come at a critical time for the Zwickau plant. The site, which has been producing exclusively fully electric vehicles since November 2019, is facing massive pressure given the group's austerity measures and weak demand. Many fixed-term contracts have not been extended and night shifts have been cancelled. Hope rests on new, affordable electric models that are to be presented at the IAA Mobility.
VW Sachsen itself has tacitly accepted Kunstmann's resignation and at the same time thanked him for his cooperation. The general works council of Volkswagen AG describes the resignation as “consistent and correct”. The developments of the last few weeks underline once again how important stability and responsibility are in such challenging times.