Volkswagen has announced the closure of its Audi factory in Brussels, Belgium, just days after revealing plans to shut down three plants in Germany. The Brussels facility, which manufactures the electric crossover Audi Q8 E-Tron, is set to cease operations on February 28, 2025.
The shutdown is expected to result in the loss of around 3,000 jobs, prompting strong opposition from unions and raising concerns about the future of electric vehicle production in Europe. While Volkswagen asserts that it has explored all viable options, unions claim that the company hastily dismissed potential solutions.
The Brussels plant has become a symbol of the broader debate surrounding the transition to electric vehicles. Critics argue that European automakers, including Volkswagen, have placed too much emphasis on producing large, expensive electric crossovers, such as the Audi Q8 E-Tron, which starts at around €80,000. This strategy, they contend, ignores the needs of average consumers and hinders the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Volkswagen’s decision to close the Brussels factory comes during a challenging period for the automaker. The company has experienced a significant decline in sales in China, its largest market, and faces increasing competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers that are rapidly entering the European market.
In September, Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, announced plans to discontinue the Q8 E-Tron production and put the Brussels factory up for sale. Despite interest from 26 parties, Volkswagen claims that none of the proposals offered a viable solution for the factory's future.
Source: arenaev
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