WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - VW Works Council Chairwoman Daniela Cavallo is open to defense projects at the automaker. "I believe that Germany and Europe need to become more independent in the field of defense," she said in an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "The world has changed dramatically. That is why it is important for Europe to establish a counterbalance in this area."

This could especially offer a perspective for the plant in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony. "We are examining all possibilities to secure the future of the Osnabrück site," Cavallo said. Defense projects are one such option. The employee representative pointed out that the group subsidiary MAN has already been building military trucks for years in a joint venture with Rheinmetall.

Crises and tariffs intensify the situation

Cavallo continues to see the automotive industry in a tense situation, including Volkswagen. Geopolitical conflicts and trade disputes, such as new US tariffs, are putting additional pressure on the sector. "The board must deal with this; that is its responsibility," Cavallo said.

However, she categorically rejected any new savings programs at the expense of the workforce. "My job is to ensure that existing agreements are honored—and that no new savings programs are introduced unilaterally at the expense of the employees."

"After every crisis, better times return"

The package agreed upon at the end of 2024 already demands a lot from the workforce. "This program now needs to be implemented consistently—not just regarding labor costs, but across all cost categories." She is convinced that the program will bear fruit. "After every crisis, better times return. I am confident of that."

At the end of 2024, the company and the union reached a restructuring agreement after lengthy negotiations, which foresees the reduction of 35,000 jobs in Germany by 2030. In return, plant closures and compulsory redundancies were excluded.

Plant closures remain off the table

Cavallo is determined not to budge on this point. She will "under no circumstances" accept plant closures, not even in Osnabrück. While there is not yet a finalized future concept for the site, "the group board has committed to developing one together with the employee side." A closure is not planned "and is not an option," she emphasized.

Production of the Porsche models built in Osnabrück will end this year, and production of the VW T-Roc Cabrio will cease in mid-2027. The defense company Rheinmetall has long been considered a potential interested party. In February, the plant also presented prototypes for possible military vehicles based on VW models, initially just as a test. Whether anything concrete will come of this remains completely open, according to VW./fjo/DP/stk