Auto Makers sneezing; Workers catching pneumonia.

 

When profits are threatened capitalism’s reaction is to punish the exploited workers who make its profits for it in the first place. The actions of these companies, and there will no doubt be many more contemplating similar actions, affect not only the workers directly employed, but also workers in companies that provide other services to car manufacturers.

There is, of course, a much better solution, to these ‘problems’.

No prizes for guessing what it is.

Bosch

‘German auto parts supplier Robert Bosch has announced plans to trim its global workforce by 5,500 jobs in the next several years, citing stagnating global auto sales, Deutsche Welle has reported.

According to the company’s spokeswoman, cited by the outlet, some 3,800 of the job cuts will be made in Germany. The exact number of lay-offs will be negotiated in talks with workers’ representatives, she said on Friday.

The group would cut 3,500 employees in its car software division by 2027, with about half the job losses coming in Germany.

Bosch said it also planned to slash up to 1,300 positions between 2027 and 2030 at its steering division based in Schwaebisch Gmuend, southwestern Germany.

The company said in a statement, cited by the outlet, that weak demand for electric vehicles had a “direct impact” on the number of orders placed by manufacturers with Bosch.’

FORD

‘US car manufacturer Ford has said it will lay off 4,000 of its workforce in Europe, becoming the latest auto maker to try to cut costs amid weak electric vehicle (EV) sales and competition from China.  

The job cuts represent about 14% of Ford’s 28,000 workforce in Europe and around 2.3% of its total workforce of 174,000, and will be completed by the end of 2027, the company said on Wednesday. The bulk of the layoffs will take place in Germany, where 2,900 positions are under threat, and in Britain, with an expected 800 jobs to be cut.  

The US carmaker will be the latest after Nissan, Stellantis, and GM to resort to the drastic step in a bid to cut costs as the automotive sector faces challenges, including weak EV sales. Ford announced massive layoffs last year as part of an austerity plan, saying it will cut jobs as it shifts to EV production, which requires less personnel.’

VOLKSWAGEN

‘Volkswagen’s German workforce is preparing for widespread strikes in December after negotiations between labour leaders and management over cost-cutting measures reached an impasse.

At the heart of the dispute is Volkswagen’s plan to close three German factories and cut thousands of jobs to address slumping demand for electric vehicles and rising operational costs. Labour leaders have fiercely opposed these measures, arguing they would devastate the workforce and regional economies dependent on the auto maker.’