---
title: "Global automotive industry enters a period of massive restructuring"
description: "The global automotive industry is undergoing deep restructuring amid falling demand and Chinese EV expansion. Volkswagen plans major layoffs and restructuring."
date: 2026-09-26T12:08:39.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/global-automotive-industry-enters-restructuring-period
tags: [volkswagen, automotive-industry, restructuring, electric-vehicles, layoffs]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Global automotive industry enters a period of massive restructuring

![Assembly line at a Volkswagen automotive plant during restructuring](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/26/mirovaya-avtomobilnaya-promyshlennost-v-period-restrukturizatsii/mirovaya-avtomobilnaya-promyshlennost-v-period-restrukturizatsii-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Volkswagen plans to cut another 50,000 jobs globally
- Unions warn that job cuts could potentially affect up to 140,000 workers
- Volkswagen forecasts operating profit margin to peak at 1% in 2026
- Chinese automakers are increasing their market share in Europe

The global automotive industry is entering a period of deep restructuring as manufacturers simultaneously face multiple challenges such as weakening demand, rising costs, pressure from Chinese electric vehicles, and rapid technological changes. Traditional auto giants are forced to rethink their survival strategies.

At the center of this process is Volkswagen Group. The company plans to cut another 50,000 jobs worldwide, with half of them potentially concentrated in Germany. This figure follows a plan to cut 35,000 jobs in Germany agreed upon in late 2024. Financial pressure is mounting as Volkswagen forecasts that operating profit margin will peak at 1% in 2026, while profits in China continue to decline.

### Contradictory Data

While official Volkswagen management plans focus on large-scale optimization and investment in plant modernization, independent sources and trade unions cite significantly more alarming figures. According to union warnings, the total wave of cuts across the group's enterprises could affect up to 140,000 jobs, substantially exceeding initial corporate estimates.

### Expert Analysis and Technological Shift

Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management (CAM), believes that Volkswagen needs to reduce costs, model count, and production complexity. However, he argues these measures will not be enough unless the company finds new revenue sources. According to him, the automaker was slow to adapt to EVs and software-defined models.

Pressure is spreading from manufacturers to the entire supply chain. While European companies are scaling down operations, Chinese enterprises are expanding their presence in Europe, capturing market share and forcing traditional automakers to seek new alliances and technological solutions.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Мировая автомобильная промышленность вступает в период масштабной реструктуризации.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/nganh-o-to-toan-cau-buoc-vao-cuoc-tai-cau-truc-lon) - Основной источник аналитики и контекста мировой реструктуризации автопрома.
- [Сокращения в Volkswagen могут затронуть до 140 тыс. рабочих мест, предупреждает профсоюз](https://www.finmarket.ru/news/6691910) - Данные профсоюза о масштабах сокращений до 140 тыс. человек.
- [Профсоюз Volkswagen предупредил о возможном сокращении до 140 тысяч рабочих мест](https://www.interfax.ru/business/1111122) - Подтверждение заявлений профсоюзов по поводу потенциальных объемов сокращений.
- [Volkswagen может сократить штат еще на 50 тысяч мест, пишут СМИ](https://1prime.ru/20260713/volkswagen-871468147.html) - Информация о плане сокращения еще 50 тысяч рабочих мест.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: How many jobs does Volkswagen plan to cut?
**A:** Volkswagen plans to cut another 50,000 jobs globally, though trade unions warn that total cuts could affect up to 140,000 workers.

### Q: What is Volkswagen's profit margin forecast for 2026?
**A:** Volkswagen forecasts that its operating profit margin will reach a maximum of 1% in 2026.