On this Thursday everyone in Wolfsburg did the great text exegesis once again. As always when something internal to VW leaks out. in the Handelsblatt was to read in detail what is already general knowledge: Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess offended the inspectors in the supervisory board meeting on September 24th with his demand to think about cutting 30,000 or 35,000 jobs. He knew from his time in Great Britain how quickly the auto industry could fall behind. That shouldn’t happen at VW. Efficiency must increase and time is of the essence so that this number does not become a reality. Pretty much everyone shares the analysis – but no one agrees with the sledgehammer style that Diess presents unsolicited. That is the reason for the ongoing staff discussion about him.
Some details are new, and so everyone is now wondering: Has someone passed on the minutes of the meeting? The main reason for this is a quote that nobody denies: Stephan Weil, the SPD Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, which is also a 20 percent owner of VW, complains about Diess’ speechlessness. There has been no contact with him since his contract extension in the summer. “That is not constructive,” Weil is quoted as saying: “That is not a good sign.”
It cannot be ruled out that the meeting of the supervisory board will be postponed again
Of course, there is now a lot of contact between the State Chancellery and VW, especially through Human Resources Director Gunnar Kilian and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hans Dieter Pötsch. Nevertheless, some read out that Weil does not get away well with the description. Does the IG Metall union want to urge the Social Democrats to take a stand – against Diess, who is unloved because it is so harsh? Did the Lower Saxony Minister of Economic Affairs, Bernd Althusmann, thus open the fight for the state election next autumn? Then “the country” would also be divided. Power over Europe’s largest industrial group is already distributed like this anyway: There are also the Porsche and Piëch families as well as IG Metall and the works council. Or does it just read that way by chance, without anyone explicitly wanting to shoot anyone? And who actually once scattered the number? Was that perhaps Diess itself to move something forward?
You decide: VW Supervisory Board Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch (left) and Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD).
(Photo: Ronny Hartmann / dpa)
The situation is still confusing even after dozens of conversations. From the various camps it is said after all: The report is not decisive in the negotiations about Herbert Diess’ future, in the questions about the reorganization of the group and the right electric models at the parent plant in Wolfsburg. From the employee side, you hear further on Thursday: You have criticized Diess harshly, of style and performance, and expected an answer. But no one there continues to talk about the inevitable compulsory expulsion.
How does it go on now? The really crucial talks could take place at the weekend. But there is also the corona epidemic, which is worsening again: the situation cannot be regulated via video chat. Now it takes taking-aside sessions to reach consensus. Hard to get at the height of the fourth wave. It is therefore not ruled out – at least two camps say it – that the Supervisory Board meeting will be postponed again.