Volkswagen’s board has approved plans to eliminate another 50,000 jobs by 2030 as part of the German automaker’s biggest restructuring in its nearly 90-year history. The latest cuts will bring the total number of jobs the group plans to reduce to around 100,000. The company, which owns brands including Audi, Porsche and Skoda, is also reviewing the future of four German plants.

Volkswagen said the workforce reduction is necessary to improve competitiveness amid changing demand and rapid technological shifts. The company also plans to reduce the number of vehicle models it produces by 50% by 2035 and cut product complexity by 75%. Shares of Volkswagen rose around 7% in Frankfurt following the announcement.

The automaker has faced declining profits and weaker sales, particularly in China, where competition from rapidly expanding Chinese manufacturers has intensified. Sales have also declined in the US, partly due to tariffs. Volkswagen employed more than 660,000 people worldwide in 2025 and is now assessing alternative uses for its plants in Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm, where production capacity exceeds demand.

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