A further 1,400 jobs will go at German carmaker Audi in Brussels in the course of this year say socialist union representatives at the plant following last night’s special works council. The management plans to end production of the Q8 e-tron model early and has announced restructuring plans. The union's conclusion: "If no solutions emerge, closure of the site is inevitable".
"Audi is seeing a worldwide decline in customer orders in the electric luxury car segment," Audi Brussels management state. "This has an impact on the Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron models, which are produced in Brussels."
"We are considering an early end to production at the Brussels site." Plans for the model to be made in Mexico from 2027 surfaced earlier.
Restructuring on the way
Last night the Audi board told the works council that it plans to restructure the Brussels plant. A process in which the board will now try to find solutions for the site, together with the social partners i.e. the unions will now follow.
The Vorst plant runs on the production of the Audi Q8 e-tron, but this is in danger of disappearing after 2027.
"If no alternatives are found, it could mean the closure of the site," the unions believe. Some 3,000 workers are currently employed in Brussels.
"An announcement of an intention is not yet a decision," says Volker Germann, CEO of Audi Brussels. "Nevertheless, this news troubles our employees and also myself. It is important to have a transparent and constructive dialogue in the process that now follows. We will look at all options."
“Closure inevitable could become inevitable”
Production falls to a maximum of 25,000 cars this year. According to Franky De Schrijver of the socialist trade union ABVV, production of the Q8 e-tron will stop completely by the end of 2025. "The consequence will be a sharp reduction in staff very quickly," he says.
"By October, 1,400 to 1,500 people will lose their jobs," say both De Schrijver and Ronny Liedts of the Christian trade union, the ACV. "The management says it is negotiating and is looking for alternatives," says De Schrijver. "But at the moment there are no solutions. If this continues, a closure of the site is inevitable."
