Volkswagen will reduce the number of members of the Board of Directors by one third by 2026, as part of a streamlining and restructuring strategy.

Production, technical development, and procurement will be managed by a brand group management board, consisting of four members, which will oversee the Skoda, Seat/Cupra brands and the Volkswagen commercial vehicles division. The new strategy aims for a reduction of approximately one third of the board positions by mid-2026. Thomas Schäfer, the CEO of the automotive division, emphasized that this board will bring increased speed and a focus on optimizing the brands. Additionally, Volkswagen has announced a massive cost-cutting program, which will include the layoff of 35,000 employees in Germany by 2030.