Is VW Zwickau facing a permanent two-shift operation?

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Due to the weak demand for electric cars, the Volkswagen Group has prepared to be able to reduce its production in Zwickau in the long term. As the company informed MDR SACHSEN, a corresponding agreement was reached with the works council. In this way, next year two production lines could go from operating in three shifts to operating in two shifts. However, the final decision depends on the market situation. VW wants to secure the location in Zwickau.

In Zwickau, among others, the ID.3 and Cupra Born models are manufactured. As of this week, this same production line only operates in two shifts instead of three. A spokesperson explained that the management and the works council were in agreement on this. In September management terminated a corresponding employment contract from 1991.

The Zwickau plant was the first in the group to fully adapt to the production of electric cars. But demand is developing less than expected. In addition, electric cars are now manufactured at other VW and Audi plants. Production in Zwickau was therefore temporarily reduced in October and only one of the two production lines is currently in operation.

According to a study by MDR UMSCHAU, the capacity utilization of the Zwickau plant is currently only 60 percent. Instead of the possible 360,000 vehicles, only 220,000 electric cars will leave the Zwickau production halls this year. If the situation does not improve next year, according to information from the MDR, up to 2,200 jobs for temporary employees will be in danger.

In addition to Volkswagen employees, many other employees in the supplier industry will be affected by the sharp drop in demand for electric cars, fears Thomas Knabel, union representative at IG Metall Zwickau. Experts estimate that the drought will last about two years. This also has consequences for employment. Several expired contracts for temporary employees have not been extended, and many more without permanent employment are worried about their jobs. “The concern remains where the journey will take us,” Knabel said.