Daily brief
Automotive & Business Brief — 30 September 2026
IG Metall / VW / works council §7 review on investment/product commitments (Emden, Hanover, Zwickau). No public outcome yet; IG Metall warned of a “knallharter Winter” if promises slip.
Executive Snapshot
- IG Metall / VW / works council §7 review on investment/product commitments (Emden, Hanover, Zwickau). No public outcome yet; IG Metall warned of a “knallharter Winter” if promises slip.
Top Developments
-
IG Metall–VW Hanover review talks today — commitments under pressure
Europe
Late-morning §7 Überprüfungsgespräch in Hanover. Not a new pay round; employment security to end-2030 unkündbar. Focus: whether 2024 investment/product promises hold. IG Metall (Thorsten Gröger): testing deals “plays with fire.” Statements expected late afternoon/evening. Tied to Emden, Hanover, Zwickau (+ Audi Neckarsulm in wider debate).
Companies Volkswagen, Audi
-
VW Future Plan 2030: ~50k further jobs; four German plants in review
Europe
Board approved plan (3 Sep): ~50k more cuts on top of ~50k under way. Emden, Zwickau, Hanover, Audi Neckarsulm under alternatives review as models phase out from 2031; European concept by mid-2027. Separate reports: ~€16bn restructuring envelope; no closures approved yet.
Companies Volkswagen, Audi
Sources
-
Mercedes: still conditional — one assembly + one powertrain if costs do not fall
Europe
Schiebe (21–22 Sep, Sindelfingen): if cost measures fail, close one German assembly and one powertrain plant. Sites unnamed; company aims to keep all German sites. Works council rejects “concessions or closures.”
Companies Mercedes-Benz
Sources
-
Stellantis: four French plants idle 5–15 days in October
Europe
29 Sep: Sochaux 23–30 Oct (long-range EV batteries); Rennes 22–30 Oct; Mulhouse 15–30 Oct (demand/mix); Poissy 19–23 Oct (stock). Separate from Canada Brampton dispute.
Companies Stellantis
Sources
-
Unifor–Stellantis: still conciliation; Brampton blocks pattern
Americas
24 Sep Unifor: impasse. Pattern deal tied to Brampton closure/sale to Roshel — union rejects. Agreement expired 20 Sep; Ontario mandatory conciliation — no legal strike/lockout; no strike vote. Ottawa: neither instigated nor endorsed Roshel sale.
Companies Stellantis
-
VW Puebla: strike clock to 2 Oct 11:00; holds 10.04% offer
Americas
SITIAVW 29 Sep: company cannot improve package rejected 11 Sep (+10.04% / 18 months). Discussing 12- vs 24-month horizons. New deal needs worker vote; may extend emplazamiento ending Fri 2 Oct 11:00. Tribunal hearing 30 Sep.
Companies Volkswagen
Sources
-
Bohai Harzgerode: wind-down confirmed to 31 Jan 2027
Europe
Admin told ~550 staff (28 Sep): end 31 Jan 2027 after failed investor search. Al casting mainly ICE; VW order decline. Social-plan talks with BR/IG Metall next.
Companies Bohai, Volkswagen
-
Renault: €600m Spain — first Spanish EVs + Valladolid battery line
Europe
Through 2030: Valladolid/Palencia for five models incl. two C-segment EVs on RGEV Medium 2.0 (800 V per electrive) + battery assembly. Renault + Spanish public funds; labour deal secures >6,000 jobs.
Companies Renault
-
Aptiv: Winchester & Intercable Automotive unified under Aptiv brand
Global
1 Sep: Winchester → Aptiv Interconnect; IAS → Aptiv High-Voltage Technologies; Connection Systems unchanged. One Engineered Components interconnect/HV portfolio.
Companies Aptiv
Sources
-
Sumitomo Wiring × ExaWizards: AI agents for harness plants
Global
17 Sep: multi-AI agents (Audit/Intervention/Review) for anomaly detection & skill capture. Overseas PoCs this FY; global rollout next year under 2030VISION smart factory.
Companies Sumitomo Wiring Systems
Sources
-
Rivian + TE: zonal complexity → controllers; 800 V = creepage/clearance
Global
AMS 28 Sep: Rivian cuts unjustified inlines, 1–2 PNs/harness family; complexity into zone controllers — design early. TE: 400→800 V+ driven by IEC 60664 creepage/clearance & CTI materials.
Companies Rivian, TE Connectivity
Sources
-
Rosenberger HVR®210: compact HV connector for 800–1,200 V
Global
Sep PR: up to 1,200 V DC, 208 A @ 85 °C; Cu/Al; automation-ready; battery/PDU/inverter/eAxle.
Companies Rosenberger
Sources
-
Hyundai Mobis: robotic harness-to-battery mating pilot (Ulsan)
Asia
AMS 24 Sep: 3D vision + 6-axis robots mate harness connectors to EV battery modules (sub-mm). Was manual; broader harness automation path later.
Companies Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis