This week begins with extra worrying information from the Volkswagen Group’s Zwickau manufacturing unit, which is the group’s largest EV plant in Europe.
In keeping with Automobilwoche and MDR (by way of Electrive), Volkswagen is shutting down manufacturing of the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born hatchback solely this week and this pause is anticipated to proceed by means of the top of this 12 months.
Let’s recall that the MEB-based duo of compact hatchbacks, produced on the identical manufacturing line in Zwicaku, already famous a two-week pause in October, whereas in November (after resuming manufacturing) the corporate canceled the third shift.
It appears that evidently the demand points are so massive and difficult that the earlier measures haven’t solved the disproportion between provide and demand. Now, we’re speaking a couple of full stoppage of manufacturing of each fashions for a complete month.
To make issues worse, the manufacturing line chargeable for the crossover/SUVs (Volkswagen ID.4, Volkswagen ID.5, Audi This autumn e-tron, and Audi This autumn Sportback e-tron) in Zwickau has been stopped for about three weeks now (most of November) as a result of an inadequate provide of latest rear drive models. The difficulty with the Volkswagen Group’s all-new APP550 drive models additionally issues different crops in Europe.
The excellent news, in keeping with the article, is that manufacturing is anticipated to lastly begin up once more this week. Nonetheless, it is not clear whether or not it is going to go full-scale or on a restricted foundation.
German media experiences that the Volkswagen Group’s state of affairs is “crucial” after the Volkswagen Model CEO Thomas Schaefer warned the employees concerning the model’s lack of competitiveness.
The Zwickau plant didn’t prolong contracts with 269 staff this 12 months, and the corporate’s spokesperson stated that nearly 500 momentary staff won’t be prolonged within the coming 12 months. Job cuts related to decreased manufacturing may proceed into 2024, the article explains.