NECKARSULM, GERMANY — Thousands of workers at Audi’s Neckarsulm plant joined a nationwide day of action on Monday, September 21, 2026, protesting against impending job cuts and structural downsizing. Organised by Germany’s powerful industrial union IG Metal under the banner “A Future, Not Cutbacks,” the protests mobilized approximately 175,000 workers across more than 280 actions at major car manufacturers and suppliers.

A Struggle for Survival: The Crisis in Germany’s Auto Sector

Germany’s automotive industry—the cornerstone of the nation’s industrial economy—is facing one of the most challenging periods in decades. For nearly three years, manufacturers havbeen squeezed by:

• Weaker Demand: Sluggish consumer spending and reduced global orders.
• The Costly EV Transition: The expensive technological shift toward electric vehicles (EVs).
• Intensified Chinese Competition: Rapid market expansion by Chinese EV brands, which has severely dented the profits German automakers once enjoyed in China.

Mounting Job Losses and Volkswagen Under Pressure

The human cost of the downturn has been severe. According to IG Metal, roughly 50,000 jobs were lost across Germany’s automotive sector last year alone.

• Volkswagen at Risk: Volkswagen is facing particularly acute pressure, with four German plants at risk of closure and plans expected to eliminate another 25,000 jobs in the coming years.
• Union Demands: IG Metal is urging German politicians and automakers to enact stronger protective measures—including potential import duties on hybrid vehicles and regulations encouraging domestic European production.

Shifting the Focus: Restructuring Over Layoffs

Rather than leaning solely on workforce reductions to cut costs, the union is demanding structural changes within management. IG Metal argues that automakers must target excessive product complexity, bloated bureaucracy, and high shareholder payouts, redirecting funds instead toward future-oriented products, new technologies, and local production sites.

Bottom Line

As Europe’s automotive sector navigates the difficult pivot to electric mobility under the shadow of aggressive foreign competition, the massive protests in Germany highlight an urgent battle: balancing industrial competitiveness with the protection of manufacturing jobs.