Volkswagen Announces Drastic Production Cuts, Halving Model Range

Volkswagen has approved sweeping production cuts that will dramatically reduce the variety of vehicles it offers, though the German automaker has not addressed potential job losses linked to the restructuring. The company plans to cut its model range by 50 percent and reduce the number of optional equipment features available to customers by as much as 75 percent. The announcement is significant for Slovakia, which is home to a major Volkswagen plant in Bratislava — one of the country's largest employers and a key driver of the Slovak economy. Any large-scale restructuring at Volkswagen carries the potential for serious economic consequences for Slovak workers and the broader manufacturing sector, though the company has so far stayed silent on whether layoffs will follow the production overhaul.