As Volkswagen is in turmoil on its home turf in Germany with massive labor strikes, the company looks to be relocating manufacturing of its ID. Buzz retro-style minivan EV out of the country.
Currently the ID. Buzz is built in Hanover, Germany, but as the electric van has fallen short of its production goals, Volkswagen may relocate all or part of its production to a plant in Poznan, Poland, as reported by Hannoversche Allgemeine (spotted by Electrive).
The ID. Buzz has fallen short of its 130,000 vehicles per year target, with fewer than 15,000 deliveries in the first half of this year. Since the summer, production on both lines at the plant has been carried out in two daytime shifts without needing to add any night shifts.
Meanwhile, in Germany, more than 100,000 workers at nine Volkswagen factories across Germany, including its EV-only factory, went on strike this strike this week for a few hours on Monday, bringing assembly lines to a grinding halt in the battle over the slashed pay, lost jobs, and the automaker’s future.
The strike comes after weeks of collective bargaining negotiations in which the Volkswagen didn’t back down from its plan to potentially slash thousands of jobs and close factories in Germany – a first in the automaker’s 87-year history in the country. Volkswagen plans to close at least three factories, lay off thousands of workers, and trim pay for those remaining by 10%, all as it fights to stay alive amid stiff competition from China.
Moving the ID. Buzz out of Germany would certainly be a blow to the German plant, and so far there is no word as to what might, if anything, fill the gap.
Read more: VW ID. Buzz pricing, range & interior colors announced
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