Finance

VW brands to cut board roles in push to save 1 billion euros

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on January 21, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: January 21, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
VW brands to cut board roles in push to save 1 billion euros
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

BERLIN, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The core brand group of German carmaker Volkswagen plans to cut back management positions and consolidate the platform in a bid to save 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), the

Volkswagen to Reduce Board Positions in €1 Billion Cost-Saving Drive

Volkswagen's Cost-Cutting Strategy

BERLIN, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The core brand group of German carmaker Volkswagen plans to cut back management positions and consolidate the production platform in a bid to save 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) by 2030, it said on Wednesday.

The plan is to reduce the number of board members in Volkswagen's core brand group by about a third by summer 2026, the company said in a statement.

This would mean board roles will be reduced from 29 to 19, Automobilwoche industry publication had reported earlier in the day, citing sources.

Board Member Reductions

Thus, brands like VW passenger cars, Skoda and Seat/Cupra will in future each have just four board members - a CEO, plus executives for finance, sales and human resources - with development, procurement and production being handled at the carmaker's headquarters in Wolfsburg, the company added.

Job Cuts and Production Changes

It said it will gradually streamline the management structures within the Brand Group Core even further in the medium term.

Financial Goals and Savings

The core brand group's more than 20 globally operating plants will be organized into five production regions, it said, with the regional managers assuming cross-brand and cross-country responsibility.

Volkswagen is in the process of cutting 35,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 as it battles with an industrial slowdown, stiff competition from China and costly tariffs.

Automobilwoche had reported that the expected savings under Volkswagen core brand group CEO Thomas Schaefer were made up of 600 million euros in personnel costs and 400 million euros from production efficiencies.

($1 = 0.8535 euros)

(Reporting by Rachel More and Linda Pasquini, Editing by Louise Heavens)

Key Takeaways

  • Volkswagen plans to cut board roles to save €1 billion.
  • The core brand group will reduce board members from 29 to 19.
  • VW aims to cut 35,000 jobs in Germany by 2030.
  • Savings include €600 million in personnel costs.
  • Production efficiencies expected to save €400 million.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cost-cutting?
Cost-cutting refers to strategies implemented by companies to reduce their expenses and improve profitability. This can involve reducing staff, consolidating operations, or optimizing processes.
What is a board member?
A board member is an individual who serves on a company's board of directors, responsible for overseeing the company's management and making decisions on major company issues.
What is job reduction?
Job reduction is the process of decreasing the number of employees in a company, often due to financial constraints or restructuring efforts aimed at improving efficiency.
What is a management structure?
A management structure defines the hierarchy within an organization, outlining the roles and responsibilities of different levels of management and how they interact with each other.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category