VW Board Set to Decide on ‘Zielbild 2030’ as Capgemini Cuts Signal Growing Turmoil in Germany’s Automotive Heartland

A crucial supervisory board meeting at Volkswagen on July 9 will determine the fate of what could be the largest job-shedding plan in the company’s history, just as a separate IT-service provider in Wolfsburg announced it will cut more than three-quarters of its local staff. The twin developments have deepened anxiety across Germany’s automotive region.

Under the internal name “Zielbild 2030,” VW’s management — led by CEO Oliver Blume — is preparing a restructuring that may affect up to 100,000 jobs worldwide, a sharp increase from the 50,000 previously communicated. Four German plants are seen as particularly at risk: Hannover, Emden, Zwickau and Audi’s Neckarsulm site. A company spokesperson confirmed the transformation would be far-reaching.

Workers’ representatives and the IG Metall union have pledged to fight any factory shutdowns with full force. The state of Lower Saxony, which together with employee representatives holds a majority on the supervisory board, has already voiced clear opposition to closures. The federal government, while stressing that business decisions remain the company’s prerogative, said its goal is to avoid shutdowns.

The July 9 board meeting will address these plans. Analysts view the job-cut figures as a possible negotiating tactic, noting that existing employment guarantees at several locations rule out operational redundancies until 2030 or 2033.

Meanwhile, the IT outsourcer Capgemini announced it will reduce its workforce at the Wolfsburg-Warmenau site from 300 to just 70 employees. The IG Metall chapter in Wolfsburg sharply criticized the move and called for investment instead of cuts. A works meeting was held on June 24, followed by a union members’ assembly on June 25 to coordinate a response.

Wolfsburg’s mayor, aware of mounting pressure in the automotive sector, urged companies to keep their existing promises. The Capgemini cuts are seen as an early warning for the broader supplier and service ecosystem that depends on Volkswagen’s health.

en | boerse | 69644933 |