The stricken one Auto supplier Webasto wants to cut 300 more jobs by the end of the year – mainly management positions in administration. This primarily affects the company headquarters in Stockdorf, just outside Munich, and the neighboring location in Gilching, as the company announced. The job cuts should therefore be carried out in as socially responsible a manner as possible; a social plan has been agreed with the works council. According to the company, the affected employees will be offered a transfer to a transfer company.
“The changes in the automotive market require a leaner and more cost-efficient organization with less complexity and quick decision-making processes,” said Webasto boss Jörg Buchheim (57). “This is the only way we can remain competitive.”
More job cuts than originally planned
Webasto got into financial difficulties last year, and at the end of August the board agreed a rescue package worth two billion euros with banks and car manufacturers. The board had already decided to cut 650 jobs in the spring Germany announced, the new job cuts are now being added. At the end of 2024, a good 15,300 people were still working at Webasto worldwide.
In March, the long-standing CEO Holger Engelmann (59) left his post early and had been replaced by Buchheim. Engelmann had previously directed Webasto’s fortunes for almost twelve years.
Webasto primarily builds sliding and panoramic roofs
The company’s main products are sliding and panoramic roofs. On the one hand, there have been failures in recent years with new products such as charging stations for electric cars. Webasto had already sold the loss-making business at the beginning of 2024.
In addition, Webasto – like other suppliers – is suffering from the sharp decline in sales figures of German car manufacturers China. The suppliers are hit even harder than the actual car manufacturers. The industry has announced tens of thousands of job cuts.
Webasto is one billion euros in debt and has been working on a financial restructuring concept for months with experts from management consultancy Alvarez & Marsal and the banks. According to media reports, the two owner families could at least temporarily lose control of the company through a trust solution.