# Volkswagen to cut 50,000 more jobs in historic overhaul German auto giant launches its biggest transformation ever to compete with Chinese rivals. - **Source:** [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com) - **Published:** 2026-09-03 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/fb40ec04-08d9-4956-9ece-fa9f40d503c3 ## Historic transformation plan Volkswagen has approved its 'Future Plan 2030', a 12-point transformation program described as the 'most extensive transformation program' in its history. The company will implement fundamental adjustments to its global workforce, including management positions. Beyond existing cost-cutting programs, an additional 50,000 job reductions are planned. Details about where, when and how these cuts will occur haven't been specified yet. ## Pressure from Chinese competitors European automakers face stiff competition from low-cost Chinese manufacturers. Volkswagen feels this pressure particularly in its home European market. High energy prices, complex product portfolios and US automotive tariffs create additional challenges. The company is forced to take radical measures to remain competitive under these conditions. ## Radical model reduction Volkswagen plans to halve its model portfolio by 2035 and reduce vehicle variety by about 75%. This strategy will mean fewer models and variants but higher production volumes for remaining models. Costs will be reduced across the sprawling group that includes Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Škoda, Seat, Cupra, Bentley and Lamborghini brands. ## Targets and performance expectations The company aims to sell about 9 million vehicles annually and reach a 9% operating margin by 2030. To achieve these goals, measures will be taken to increase production efficiency. European factories currently have capacity for more than 500,000 vehicles beyond current demand levels. Production plans for four German plants in Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm remain uncertain for the 2031-2034 period. ## Uncertain future for plants Volkswagen is considering alternative uses for factories with excess capacity. The fate of four German plants remains unclear from 2031 onward. The company had previously planned to cut more than 35,000 jobs at its German sites by 2030 in a 2024 agreement. How the new global targets overlap with these earlier plans hasn't been clarified yet. ## Broader industry trend Volkswagen's transformation is part of a wider trend in the automotive sector. Manufacturers are simplifying operations and cutting costs to cope with consecutive challenges. The high costs of transitioning to electric vehicles, global supply chain issues and changing consumer preferences are making this transformation necessary. Volkswagen stands out as one of the most striking examples of this process. ## Cost of electric transition Traditional automakers are struggling with the high R&D and production costs of transitioning to EV technology. Volkswagen is taking radical measures to ease the financial burden of this shift. To compete with Chinese rivals in the EV market, the company needs to significantly reduce production costs. This inevitably brings workforce optimization. ## Domino effect expected in industry Volkswagen's decision is expected to create a domino effect in the automotive sector. Other major manufacturers will likely take similar measures. For Europe-based automakers especially, staying competitive globally requires fundamentally changing cost structures. This transformation process will have significant impacts on sector employees and suppliers. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.businessinsider.com/vw-job-cuts-overhaul-ev-chinese-cars-2026-9 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._