VW Workforce Presses CEO Over Restructuring That Could Affect 140,000 Jobs

Volkswagen’s works council says employees are preparing to question the company’s chief executive directly about a sweeping overhaul plan that could put as many as 140,000 jobs at risk. The scrutiny reflects mounting anxiety inside the automaker’s plants as management pushes ahead with a cost-cutting and restructuring agenda.

The works council’s move underscores the tension between VW’s leadership and its labor representatives, who have warned that the scale of the proposed changes goes far beyond routine efficiency measures. Workers want clear answers on how the company intends to protect employment while it reshapes its operations.

The standoff comes at a delicate moment for Europe’s largest carmaker, which is navigating the shift toward electric vehicles, softer demand in key markets, and pressure to rein in expenses. How the dialogue between the CEO and the workforce unfolds will shape both the company’s future and the mood across its German sites.