2024-07-10 20:31:25
Audi is struggling with a decline in demand for more expensive electric cars. The company is now considering a drastic step.
The car manufacturer Audi is considering closing its plant in Brussels. The company announced on Tuesday evening that it was considering a “restructuring of the Brussels site”. “Audi is observing a decline in customer orders in the electric luxury segment worldwide,” it said. The Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron models are manufactured in Brussels. The plant has a good 3,000 employees.
The plant management now wants to find “solutions for the site together with the relevant social partners,” the VW subsidiary said. “This may include ceasing operations if no alternative is found,” it said quite explicitly.
The Q8 e-tron marked Audi’s entry into electromobility in 2018 and was “very successful worldwide for many years,” the company said. But now, with the ramp-up of new models, Audi is observing a declining demand for the Q8 e-tron. “As a result, this is leading to a sharp drop in incoming orders.” The Brussels site has also been facing structural challenges for some time, which means high production costs.
In accordance with Belgian law, the necessary information and consultation process for the plant in Brussels has now been started, Audi announced. The announcement that has now been made is “not yet a final decision,” explained the head of Audi Brussels, Volker Germann. “Nevertheless, this news moves the workforce in Brussels and me too.” A transparent and constructive dialogue is now important. “We will take all perspectives into account.”