BERLIN, June 26 - Volkswagen on Friday declined to comment on a published report saying the company aims to reduce its global workforce by as many as 100,000 positions over the next few years.
In a brief statement responding to the report, the group said: "The relevant facts of the matter will be discussed and approved by the relevant bodies. We will not pre-empt this process."
The company repeated language it has used previously about the pressures facing its business: "The Group Executive Board has repeatedly emphasised that our current business model no longer works for all brands in its present form," the statement said, adding that both the group and the automotive industry were undergoing a far-reaching transformation.
Beyond the company's statement and the reported figure of up to 100,000 roles, the announcement offered no further details on timing, the geographic distribution of potential reductions, or the particular brands or operations that might be affected. The statement emphasized governance and the need for formal consideration and approval by the relevant internal bodies before any facts are confirmed.
Given the wording of Volkswagen's response, the company is positioning the matter as one requiring internal deliberation rather than immediate comment. The phrasing highlights two focal points: first, that decisions will proceed through established approval channels, and second, that the group views its business model as currently misaligned with the operational needs of all its brands amid broader industry change.
At this stage, the publicly available information consists of Volkswagen's refusal to comment on the report and the company's existing explanation that structural adjustments are necessary as it and the wider automotive sector adapt to evolving conditions. No additional facts were provided in the company's statement regarding the scale, timing, or specific nature of any workforce reductions.
Summary of available facts
- Volkswagen declined to comment on a report that it would cut up to 100,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.
- The company said: "The relevant facts of the matter will be discussed and approved by the relevant bodies. We will not pre-empt this process."
- Volkswagen reiterated that "our current business model no longer works for all brands in its present form" and that the group and the automotive industry are undergoing a far-reaching transformation.