VW supervisory board blocks closure of four German plants

VW's supervisory board stopped CEO Blume's restructuring plan ('Group Target Picture') including the proposed closure of four German plants (Hanover, Zwickau, Emden, Neckarsulm) at its 9 July meeting: 12 of the 20 board members voted against, with employee representatives and the state of Lower Saxony using their veto rights. The closures are averted for now; talks on alternative savings measures continue after the summer break. Multiply confirmed reporting (Correctiv, wallstreetONLINE and others). UPDATE (24 July 2026): At the half-year results — his first public appearance since the supervisory board meeting — CEO Blume called the circulating figure of around 50,000 jobs affected worldwide a 'theoretical derivation' and reaffirmed that he is seeking 'intelligent solutions' rather than plant closures; the four sites remain affected. No new decisions were taken; according to Manager Magazin the plans are to be resubmitted in September, with works meetings planned for late August beforehand. UPDATE (4 September 2026): The supervisory board unanimously approved the 'Zukunftsplan 2030' with around 50,000 additional job cuts worldwide (see layoffs entry dated 4 September 2026). Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm have no competitive follow-on product allocation from 2031–2034; according to the works council no plant closure has been sealed — management is to work out concrete solutions for the four sites by mid-2027 (AFP).