19:35 3 August 2026
Car manufacturers laying off managers en masse
European automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, and BMW are cutting thousands of jobs, with the latest reductions focused on managers and administrative staff. Generous severance packages are easing departures, but recruiters say there are too few comparable positions available for experienced executives.
Volkswagen plans major cuts across production, administration, product development, and sales after finding that its administrative costs were 30% higher than those of competitors. Porsche is also eliminating departments, merging business units, reducing its management board, and cutting thousands of support roles.
BMW has expanded a voluntary departure program and aims to reduce its workforce by 8,000 by the end of 2027, mainly in non-production functions. Across the industry, companies are simplifying structures, reducing bureaucracy, and addressing long-standing overstaffing in management and office-based roles.
(pb.pl)
