As the struggle over the future of Volkswagen's Osnabrück plant intensifies, labor representatives are calling for a rapid resolution. Numerous proposals for utilizing the site beyond 2027 have emerged from within the facility, Works Council Chairman Jürgen Placke stated on Wednesday following a staff meeting. 'The workforce stands united, and they expect the Board of Management to now swiftly provide a genuine outlook for all employees!' Placke noted that Volkswagen bears the responsibility of finding a follow-up perspective for the site. 'And that must come quickly now.' The objective must be to secure the plant's economic future and provide a sustainable solution for the entire workforce, Placke added.

The Volkswagen plant in Osnabrück currently produces the T-Roc Cabriolet. At the end of 2024, Europe's largest automaker decided, as part of its cost-cutting program, to phase out production next year. Beyond that point, the future of the factory and its 2,300 employees remains uncertain. Volkswagen declined to comment on the labor representatives' demands.

VW CEO Oliver Blume recently stated that the automaker is engaged in constructive talks with companies from the defense industry. He indicated that a solution could be reached by the end of the year. According to insiders, the Israeli Iron Dome manufacturer Rafael is interested in the plant, potentially for the production of vehicles or launch systems. A Rafael spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Rafael is currently represented with its own stand at the ILA Berlin Air Show, where it is showcasing the Iron Dome missile defense system, among other technologies. The system has been operational in Israel for years, where it is used to intercept drones and missiles. The Iron Dome is also utilized in the United States.

Volkswagen has been seeking a follow-up use for the plant for some time. Rheinmetall had also shown interest at one stage, but the Düsseldorf-based defense group declined to proceed in March.

(Report by Christina Amann, edited by Ralf Banser. For inquiries, please contact our editorial office at Berlin.Newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economics) or Frankfurt.Newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets))