Reduction through production relocation
The reduction in research is justified by the announcement that production of new models will be shifted to India and China. “China in particular is ahead of us in electromobility and connectivity. We don't need to reinvent anything in Matikofen.” The number of freelance motorcycle testers will also be significantly reduced from 150 to 90. But the board didn't rule out one particular idea of cost-cutting: Double-digit growth curves over the past few years simply didn't exist. At this point in time, we need to prepare for that cycle, and for APA.
Natural departures and layoffs in manufacturing
As for the roughly 300 job cuts originally announced in the manufacturing sector, he expects two-thirds will come through natural departures and one-third through layoffs. However, he wants this to be understood only as a vague estimate based on the fact that there are 200 to 300 natural departures per year. We expect that to happen this year as well. But the number may be declining somewhat, Sigil says, because “people aren't looking so desperately for workers anymore.”
