Volkswagen has announced the closure of its Audi plant in Brussels, Belgium, a few days after announcing plans to close three plants in Germany. The Brussels plant, which produces the electric crossover Audi Q8 E-Tronis scheduled to cease operations on February 28, 2025.
The closure will result in the loss of approximately 3,000 jobs, sparking strong union opposition and raising questions about the future of electric vehicle production in Europe. While Volkswagen claims to have explored all viable options, unions say the company has been too quick to dismiss potential solutions.
The Brussels plant has become a symbol of the broader debate over the transition to electric vehicles. Critics argue that European automakers, including Volkswagen, are overly focused on producing large, expensive electric crossovers, such as the Audi Q8 E-Tron, which has a starting price of around €80,000. This strategy, they argue, neglects the needs of mid-level consumers and hinders the mass adoption of electric vehicles.
Volkswagen’s decision to close the Brussels plant comes amid a difficult period for the automaker. The company has experienced a significant drop in sales in China, its largest market, and is facing growing competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, which are rapidly and massively entering the European market.
In September, Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, announced its intention to stop production of the Q8 E-Tron and put its Brussels plant up for sale. Despite the interest of 26 parties, Volkswagen claims that none of the offers presented a viable solution for the future of the plant.
Source: arenaev
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