Volkswagen responds to weakening demand Electric cars and canceled a shift at the Zwickau plant. A spokesman explained that management and the works council had agreed on a new driving style. As of this week, the production line in Hall 5, on which the ID.3 and Cupra Born models are produced, only works in two shifts instead of three. “Depending on the market situation, both production lines can be converted to classic two-shift operation with early and late shifts next year,” it said. “The decision ensures productive driving and the future viability of the location.”
According to the company, cancellations and adjustments to shifts are also practiced in various ways at the main plant in Wolfsburg. The reductions in the previous three-shift operation in Zwickau are not unexpected. In September, the management terminated a corresponding works agreement from 1991. The plant in Zwickau was the first in the group to be completely converted to the production of electric cars. However, demand is developing less strongly than expected and there are now also other VW locations Audi E-cars produced. Production in Zwickau was therefore temporarily throttled back in October, and only one of the two production lines is currently running.
Experts assume a dry spell of around two years. This also has consequences for employment. A number of expiring contracts for temporary employees were not extended, and many others without permanent employment are worried about their jobs. More than 10,000 people work at the Zwickau location.
VW plans to build a new model there in the future: The Trinity model, originally intended for Wolfsburg, will be produced in Saxony in a few years. This would make the location the first where the new SSP platform will be used.