Volkswagen’s CEO and union leaders clash over deeper cost cuts Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume is pushing for deeper cost reductions as the automaker struggles to close its cost gap with European rivals, but labor leaders are resisting layoffs and plant closures. – Blume said additional savings are needed at vulnerable German EV plants, including Emden and Zwickau. – Volkswagen is considering doubling its previously announced job cuts, with as many as 100,000 positions and four plant closures reportedly under discussion. – Labor representatives and the state of Lower Saxony control a majority of Volkswagen’s supervisory board, setting up a contentious vote on September 4. – Emden and Zwickau currently lack confirmed production plans beyond 2030, while Hanover and Audi’s Neckarsulm plant face similar uncertainty. – Osnabrück could stop vehicle production as early as next year, although a potential defense partnership could preserve the facility. – Works council chief Daniela Cavallo has rejected layoffs and plant closures as solutions. – The supervisory board already rejected an earlier restructuring proposal 12–7 in July, highlighting the divide between management and labor. The September 4 vote could become a major turning point for Volkswagen. The outcome will determine how aggressively the automaker restructures its German manufacturing footprint—and ultimately could influence which Volkswagen and Audi products reach U.S. dealerships in the years ahead.