The coronavirus outbreak and its economic impact cost Volkswagen about 2 billion euros a week. That says CEO Herbert Diess in conversation with the German channel ZDF.
Because factories are shut down and customers are out of showrooms, layoffs may be forced, Diess warns. “We are currently not earning anything outside of China,” said the CEO. Volkswagen production numbers in China are about half of the usual number.
According to Diess, it is only possible to prevent job losses if the spread of the virus is brought under control in the short term. “This requires very drastic measures,” said the Volkswagen CEO. Almost all European production tires are currently at a standstill. Volkswagens head of sales and marketing, Juergen Stackmann, previously released his vision. He thinks it will get loose. He said to the German Frankfurter Allgemeine: “We expect the German market to be stable again next summer.”