It happened in Dresden. Unprecedented decision in history. The last vehicle to leave was an electric car, signed by the workers.
A Volkswagen closed in December to production of automobiles in the unit Dresden, in Germany.
It’s a decision unpublished in the builder’s history: it is the first time, in 88 years, that the company completely interrupts production in one of its industrial complexes on German territory.
The last vehicle to leave the line was a ID.3 GTX electric red, signed by the workers, according to Volkswagen Saxony.
The unit, known as “Transparent Factory” Because of its glass façade and the concept of an experience factory open to the public, it thus becomes the first factory in Germany, owned by the German Volkswagen, to be without car production, highlights .
In recent statements, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schaefer acknowledged that the decision “it wasn’t easy”but considered it “absolutely necessary” from an economic point of view.
The company now intends to reconvert the space into a research and development centerfocusing on semiconductors, artificial intelligence and robotics.
The Technical University of Dresden is expected to occupy around half of the complex.
For those workers affected, the company says “socially acceptable alternatives” will be presented, including termination agreements and transfers to other units.
But the union IG Metall raises doubts about the implementation of these guarantees. Stefan Ehly, union leader, stated that the end of production was agreed, but that there should also be a clear plan for the future of the site that would guarantee employment for everyone — something that, according to the union, has not yet materialized.
A Volkswagen spokesperson reaffirmed that the agreement reached with the unions, which excludes compulsory dismissals, remains in force. He also highlighted that Dresden functioned, to a large extent, as a distribution and experience center, rather than as a large-scale factory, insisting that “no one will be left without work” – although some positions may still need to be defined.
The decision comes in a context of pressure on the group: falling sales in China, weak European economy and high costs of the transition to electric. Last year, Volkswagen agreed with unions to reduce 35,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, as part of a cost containment plan.
The “Transparent Factory” produced around 6 thousand cars per yearfar below the more than 500 thousand units per year in Wolfsburg. Analysts warn that the focus on low-cost electric models could intensify labor tensions, given the challenge of making them profitable with the current cost structure.
