VW’s Wolfsburg Plant May Shift To Four-Day Week From 2027

Volkswagen’s restructuring of its Wolfsburg plant starting in 2027—to transition to electric vehicle (EV)-only production—could lead to a temporary four-day workweek, according to works council chief Daniela Cavallo.

Volkswagen’s cost-cutting agreement with unions, finalized in December, includes moving production of the combustion-engine Golf from Wolfsburg to Mexico. I Photo: Volkswagen

She made the statement to workers recently, Reuters' Victoria Waldersee reported.

Cavallo, who played a key role in last year’s negotiations with management over cost-cutting measures, said unions had secured agreements on minimum capacity utilization during the transition period.

However, she urged employees to take on extra shifts beforehand to help mitigate the expected reduction in hours.

“We have to make provisions now so that we can draw on them later… From 2027 onwards, a temporary four-day week is not an unreasonable scenario,” Cavallo said.

Volkswagen’s cost-cutting agreement with unions, finalized in December, includes moving production of the combustion-engine Golf from Wolfsburg to Mexico. The decision has raised concerns among employees about the future viability of the company’s historic headquarters.