Győr neve is felbukkant a Volkswagen átalakítási forgatókönyvében

Volkswagen considers long-term reorganization involving Győr plant

The Volkswagen Group is preparing for one of the most significant transformations in its history, with strategic scenarios now including the potential long-term reassessment of the Audi Hungaria plant in Győr. Internal documents reviewed by the Manager Magazin indicate that CEO Oliver Blume has presented a comprehensive reorganization package to the supervisory board, which includes plans for significant global workforce reductions and a review of future manufacturing capacities.

Strategic scenarios and the role of the Győr facility

While the Volkswagen Group emphasizes that these plans are not finalized, the company is examining the necessity of maintaining all current European manufacturing capacities in the period around 2035. The analysis specifically mentions the Győr plant and the Škoda facility in Kvasiny, Czech Republic, as potential areas of focus. For Győr, the implications are significant. The Audi Hungaria plant is a key player in the Hungarian automotive industry, employing approximately 12,000 people in vehicle and engine production. Volkswagen leadership maintains that these scenarios are alternatives that would only be brought to the agenda if the competitiveness of German production sites does not improve at an adequate pace. The broader strategy aims to adjust to a lower production volume—targeting seven to eight million vehicles annually instead of the previous nine million—to ensure profitability in a smaller organizational structure.

Drivers of the radical reorganization

The impetus for this restructuring is driven by intense competition from Chinese manufacturers and a shift in the European automotive market. Volkswagen leadership reports that the company faces a 20 percent cost disadvantage compared to competitors, even after accounting for previous staff reduction plans. Company data suggests that manufacturing costs at German sites are approximately two-thirds higher than at some southern European locations, such as those in Portugal or Spain. To address these disparities and raise the operating profit margin from the current 2.8 percent to between 8 and 10 percent, the group is considering a multi-faceted approach: * Workforce reductions: Potential for up to 50,000 additional job cuts globally, which, when combined with previously announced measures, could affect nearly 100,000 positions. * Infrastructure and investment: A potential reduction of investments by 15 percent over five years, totaling 130 billion euros, along with the possible closure of four German plants. * Operational efficiency: A simplification of the model portfolio, a focus on affordable entry-level electric vehicles, and a closer coordination of development efforts. * Management restructuring: Plans to dissolve independent IT and compliance departments, create a new development division, and fill the long-vacant human resources director position.

Resistance from labor and regional stakeholders

The proposed changes have triggered significant conflict within the organization. During a recent supervisory board meeting, representatives of the workforce and the state of Lower Saxony rejected the reorganization package. The labor council has accused management of a substantial loss of trust, demanding that CEO Oliver Blume personally explain the measures to staff. In response, Blume and other senior leaders, including Volkswagen brand head Thomas Schäfer, scheduled forums at various production sites—including Wolfsburg, Zwickau, and Emden—to discuss the necessity of the changes. The debate is expected to continue into the autumn, with potential for the matter to be brought before an extraordinary general meeting if the standoff persists. Industry expert Stefan Bratzel has warned that any potential plant closures would carry risks beyond the company itself, potentially threatening numerous jobs within the supply chain, logistics sector, and among service providers. While initial reports speculated on the scale of the job cuts, analysts suggest that the final figures may be more moderate than the highest estimates, though the uncertainty surrounding the future of European manufacturing sites remains a central point of contention for the group.