Volkswagen's chief executive Oliver Blume has confirmed plans to cut 50,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring, despite the company's supervisory board rejecting his proposal to close four factories. Blume told staff that the restructuring proposal includes "controversial decisions" but stated he has broad support for the plan.
The announcement came as Volkswagen's supervisory board formally reviewed a radical transformation proposal that could affect up to 100,000 jobs across the company. The plan prompted widespread demonstrations at 18 Volkswagen sites in Germany as workers protested against the proposed job cuts and factory closures.
The board's rejection of the specific factory closure plan represents a constraint on the full scope of Blume's restructuring proposal, though the confirmed 50,000 job cuts will still represent a significant reduction in the company's workforce. The developments highlight tensions between management's push for transformation and workforce resistance to the changes at Europe's largest carmaker.
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