A Volkswagen car plant in northwestern Germany is to be converted to defense production, the company said Monday, as Europes biggest economy ramps up military spending amid a continent-wide push to rearm.
Volkswagen said in a statement that it had agreed to sell its Osnabrck car plant to the State of Lower Saxony and Aurelius Capital, an investment firm headquartered in Tel Aviv. The local government and Aurelius, which would be the majority owner, plan to work with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, one of the companies behind Israels Iron Dome.
These plans involve the potential manufacture of systems and components for air defense systems for Germany and Europe, Volkswagen said, adding that the cooperation was intended to pave the way for further partnerships and projects.
The deal will also preserve jobs at the site, where vehicle production is due to end next year, offering a blueprint for other Volkswagen factories at risk of closure. The automaker has warned that four German plants may need to shutter in the 2030s as it battles weak demand, rising costs and intense competition from Chinas electric vehicle makers.
With todays agreement, we are taking an important step towards opening up a new industrial future for the site, Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said.
The announcement comes just days after Volkswagen unveiled the most extensive restructuring in the groups 89-year history as it fights to secure its future. The carmakers Future Plan 2030 will halve its range of models and slash around 50,000 jobs, on top of the 50,000 workforce cuts previously announced.
At the same time, Europe is racing to rearm, with Germany leading the charge. The budget allocated to the countrys defense ministry is set to rise by a third next year, to 109.7 billion ($127 billion), from 82.7 billion ($96 billion) this year, according to government figures .
Rheinmetall, Europes biggest defense group, is among the companies repurposing vehicle factories to make military equipment, which could boost Germanys manufacturing sector as it struggles to overcome several years of weakness.
Volkswagen decided in 2024 to phase out vehicle production at the Osnabrck site in summer 2027. This latest development could save nearly 1,400 of the sites 1,800 jobs, according to a separate statement from VWs works council, which represents employees.
With this agreement, we are unlocking a genuine industrial opportunity for Osnabrck, said Olaf Lies, Minister-President of the State of Lower Saxony. The site boasts a highly-skilled workforce At the same time, there has been a fundamental change in our security situation and our need for protection. Germany and Europe must strengthen their capabilities and become more independent.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and final agreement on the new organizational structure, Volkswagen said.
大众汽车公司周一表示，随着欧洲最大经济体德国在全欧重整军备的浪潮中增加军事开支，该公司位于德国西北部的一家汽车工厂将转为国防生产。
大众汽车在一份声明中表示，已同意将其位于奥斯纳布吕克的汽车工厂出售给下萨克森州和总部位于特拉维夫的投资公司奥瑞留斯资本。地方政府与将成为主要股东的奥瑞留斯计划与以色列铁穹防御系统背后的企业之一——拉斐尔先进防御系统公司展开合作。
大众汽车表示："这些计划涉及为德国及欧洲的防空系统潜在生产相关系统和组件"，并补充称该合作旨在"为未来的合作伙伴关系与项目铺平道路"。
该协议还将保留该工厂的工作岗位（该厂车辆生产预计明年结束），为其他面临关闭风险的大众工厂提供参考模板。这家汽车制造商警告称，由于需求疲软、成本上升以及中国电动车制造商的激烈竞争，其在德国的四家工厂可能需要在2030年代停产。
大众汽车集团首席执行官奥利弗·布鲁姆表示：“通过今日签署的协议，我们正朝着为该基地开启全新工业未来迈出重要一步。”
大众汽车集团刚刚宣布了其89年历史上最大规模的重组计划，以确保未来发展。就在几天前，该汽车制造商公布了"2030未来计划"，除了先前宣布的5万个岗位削减外，还将把车型系列减半并裁减约5万个工作岗位。
与此同时，欧洲正加紧重整军备，德国在其中扮演领头羊角色。根据政府数据，该国国防部预算明年将增长三分之一，从今年的827亿欧元（约合960亿美元）增至1097亿欧元（约合1270亿美元）。
欧洲最大防务集团莱茵金属正对汽车工厂进行改造以生产军事装备。在当前德国制造业持续数年疲软的情况下，此举或将提振该国的制造业。
大众汽车于2024年决定，将于2027年夏季逐步停止奥斯纳布吕克工厂的车辆生产。据代表员工的劳资联合委员会另一份声明称，这一最新进展有望保住该厂1800个工作岗位中的近1400个。
下萨克森州州长奥拉夫·施利斯表示：“这项协议为奥斯纳布吕克市打开了真正的产业机遇。该地区拥有技术娴熟的劳动力……与此同时，我们的安全形势和防护需求已发生根本性变化。德国和欧洲必须提升自身能力，增强独立性。”
大众汽车表示，该交易仍需获得监管机构批准，并就新的组织结构达成最终协议。
