Audi to Cut Workforce By 15%- 4,500 Jobs at Risk

Following the news of sweeping cuts at Volkswagen, Nissan, and Stellantis, now VW-owned Audi announced plans to slash its workforce by 15%, with nearly 4,500 jobs at risk. According to Reuters, Audi plans to safeguard production line positions and focus on “indirect” jobs, such as those in development.

Last month, Volkswagen—which currently has 10 plants and 300,000 employees in Germany—reported its plan to close three German plants. This is the first time in the company’s 87-year history that it is closing factories on its home turf. The plan includes cutting tens of thousands of jobs and slashing pay for 10% of its remaining staff.

Audi also announced plans to officially close its plant in Brussels, where it produces the soon-to-be-discontinued Audi Q8 E-Tron, an €80,000 electric SUV that struggled with low sales. The factory is set to shut down on February 28, 2025, affecting around 3,000 workers in the Brussels area. According to Reuters, Audi confirmed it is in discussions with workers’ representatives but did not provide specific details on the number of layoffs.

Audi’s third-quarter sales figures showed a concerning 21% decline in U.S. deliveries, dropping to 46,752 units, with nearly every model experiencing a downturn. The only two vehicles to see growth were the e-tron GT electric coupe, which posted a modest 5% increase to just 673 units, and the Q3 SUV, which saw a significant 36% jump to 7,422 units.