Berlin (Germany), 12 July (LaPresse) – Volkswagen’s chief executive, Oliver Blume, has stated that he is seeking to avoid plant closures in an effort to turn the carmaker’s results around. “There are smarter solutions than closing plants,” Blume told the newspaper *Bild am Sonntag*. He added that a cost-cutting programme in Germany is already bearing fruit. “Last year alone, we managed to improve our production costs in Germany by an average of 20 per cent,” he emphasised, describing this result as “remarkable progress”. Blume argued that Volkswagen products are very popular, but “we simply earn too little from them. We must therefore continue to reduce our costs. Across all types of costs.” Last week, the Wolfsburg-based company announced that its “fundamental restructuring” over the past three years had entered the next phase, unveiling plans to streamline its model range by cutting it by up to half. Media reports had revealed that Volkswagen was also planning to close four plants in Germany between 2031 and 2034.
Cars: Volkswagen CEO: ‘There are smarter solutions than closing factories’
Berlin (Germany), 12 July (LaPresse) – Volkswagen’s chief executive, Oliver Blume, has stated that he is seeking to avoid plant closures in an effort to turn the carmaker’s results around. “There are smarter solutions than closing plants,” Blume told the newspaper *Bild am Sonntag*. He added that a cost-cutting programme in Germany is already bearing fruit. “Last year alone, we managed to improve our production costs in Germany by an average of 20 per cent,” he emphasised, describing this result as “remarkable progress”. Blume argued that Volkswagen products are very popular, but “we simply earn too little from them. We must therefore continue to reduce our costs. Across all types of costs.” Last week, the Wolfsburg-based company announced that its “fundamental restructuring” over the past three years had entered the next phase, unveiling plans to streamline its model range by cutting it by up to half. Media reports had revealed that Volkswagen was also planning to close four plants in Germany between 2031 and 2034.
