A number of Chinese car brands are reportedly interested in taking over the car factories that Volkswagen is closing already this year.
Several Chinese car brands have expressed interest in taking over the factories that Volkswagen plans to close in Germany between 2025 and 2027. These are the factories in Dresden and Osnabrück, where production is scheduled to cease.
Reuters news agency reports that Chinese automakers see an opportunity to establish themselves in the heart of the European auto industry by taking over Volkswagen's factories.
A source close to Volkswagen says the company is open to selling the factory in Osnabrück to a Chinese buyer.
"VW would be open to selling the Osnabrück plant to a Chinese buyer," the source, familiar with the plans, told Reuters .
However, Volkswagen has emphasized that they are continuing to work to find a solution that ensures a sustainable future for the factories and takes into account the interests of employees.
"We are determined to find a continued use for the factory. The goal must be a sustainable solution that takes into account the interests of the company and employees," a spokesperson from the brand told Reuters.
The takeover of the factories in Germany would give Chinese car brands quick access to the European market. For Volkswagen, a sale would mean they could divest assets that are no longer profitable.
However, the issue of a possible sale is politically sensitive. The German government has taken a more critical stance towards China in recent years, and a sale of some industries to Chinese companies may meet resistance.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel fostered a close relationship with China, which benefited German car brands. Today, the situation is different. Chinese consumers increasingly prefer domestic electric cars, and sales of German cars in China have fallen.
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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock recently described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator and China as a rival. This changed political situation could influence the decision on a possible sale of Volkswagen factories.
For the German workers at the factories in Dresden and Osnabrück, the interest from Chinese car brands offers a glimmer of hope.
"I could imagine that we would produce something for a Chinese company, but under the VW logo and under VW standards. Those are some of the conditions," says spokesman for IG Metall in Osnabrück, Stephan Soldanski.
Analysts warn against expecting too much, however. The German government will have limited influence over Chinese owners, and Chinese car factories are often more automated than traditional German factories.
It is unknown how the situation will develop, but the interest from Chinese car brands underlines the challenges facing the German automotive industry.
