Volkswagen's supervisory board is meeting in Wolfsburg to discuss a severe cost-cutting proposal that could eliminate up to 100,000 jobs globally and shutter four production facilities in Germany.
The scale of the planned restructuring has triggered an immediate response from labor unions, with IG Metall organizing an action day to protest the potential closures and workforce reductions.
The reports, first detailed by German media outlet Welt, cite confidential documents outlining the scope of the cuts.
The proposal represents a significant escalation in Volkswagen's efforts to restructure its operations, moving beyond previous optimization measures to a fundamental overhaul of its European manufacturing base.
The potential closure of four German plants marks a dramatic shift for the automaker, which has long maintained a dense network of production sites across its home market.
For investors, the announcement signals intensifying pressure on Volkswagen's cost structure as it navigates a challenging transition in the automotive sector.