Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume has explicitly stated that 50,000 jobs are at risk, marking the first time the executive has quantified the potential workforce reduction in such specific terms.
The warning underscores the severity of the automaker's ongoing restructuring efforts aimed at reducing labor costs and adapting to the electric vehicle transition.
The disclosure comes as Volkswagen navigates a complex period of transformation.
Blume indicated that without significant changes to labor costs, the company faces substantial financial headwinds.
The 50,000 figure represents a concrete subset of the broader restructuring plans that have been circulating in reports, providing a clearer picture of the immediate operational impact.
This development adds to the growing pressure on Volkswagen's management to balance cost-cutting with industrial relations.