Neckarsulm Mayor Hertwig Demands Clarity from Volkswagen on Future of Audi Site

According to his own statements, the mayor is in contact with Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. Hertwig stressed that a closure would have the most massive impact on the city and the region — not only on employees and their families, but on suppliers, service providers, tradespeople, and many other sectors. The IT service provider Bechtle is also headquartered in Neckarsulm and would be affected by the consequences.

Economic Importance for the Region

According to information from the region, Audi is the second-largest employer in Heilbronn-Franken with 15,515 employees. This puts the company only behind the Schwarz Group (Lidl and Kaufland), which employs 23,105 people in the region. At the Audi site in Neckarsulm itself, according to the available information, over 15,000 people work.

According to media reports, four VW Group plants in Germany could be affected by possible closures: in addition to Neckarsulm, the sites in Hanover, Emden, and Zwickau. The reports were broadcast on July 11, 2026 on Deutschlandfunk. According to Bild newspaper, the number of possible job cuts could be as high as 120,000, while Manager Magazin speaks of up to 100,000 jobs worldwide — twice as many as previously planned.

Background to the VW Crisis

The reasons cited for the VW Group's crisis include declining sales in China, US tariffs, and production costs in Germany that are too high by international comparison. According to its own statements, the Volkswagen Group must fundamentally restructure itself. On Thursday, the VW supervisory board met in Wolfsburg to discuss possible new savings plans — no decisions were made there.

Protests and Political Reactions

In a few days, a meeting with the VW supervisory board and Lower Saxony's Minister-President Olaf Lies (SPD) is planned. Already on Thursday, according to the available information, several hundred people had gathered in front of the Audi plant to protest against a possible closure. The protest had been called by the IG Metall union, and Hertwig also took part.

The economic importance of the site extends far beyond those directly employed. Hertwig pointed to the interconnections with numerous suppliers and service providers in the region. What a possible end would mean for the region and thousands of families is currently still unforeseeable. The city of Neckarsulm and the state of Baden-Württemberg are watching the developments with great concern.

According to the available reports, the Audi site in Neckarsulm is hanging in the balance. A final decision from the VW Group is still pending. Hertwig announced that he would continue to push for talks with the group's leadership and advocate for the preservation of the plant. The coming days are considered decisive for further developments.