Volkswagen has announced a temporary suspension of production at several of its German plants starting October 6, 2025, citing weakening demand for electric vehicles. The pause will affect the Zwickau and Dresden factories, where EV assembly lines will be halted for one week.
The decision, confirmed by the company to the German press, forms part of a wider programme of adjustments to better align manufacturing output with actual market demand. The Osnabrück plant — which produces convertible models — will also face restrictions: one weekly closure day through the end of the year plus a complete week-long shutdown in October.
According to a company spokesperson, Volkswagen continuously adapts each site’s production schedule to match demand for the models built there, and the downturn in EV demand is particularly evident. Plants such as Zwickau and Emden, both focused on fully electric vehicles, are not reaching expected sales volumes and are therefore reducing output.
The Osnabrück facility, dedicated to niche convertible models, is experiencing falling sales in a segment that has been declining for years.
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Wolfsburg runs overtime to meet combustion model demand
In stark contrast to the slowdown at electric vehicle plants, Volkswagen’s main facility in Wolfsburg is operating at full capacity — and then some. Strong demand for internal-combustion models such as the Golf, Tiguan and Tayron has prompted the company to schedule Sonderschichten (special weekend shifts) to keep pace with orders.
These overtime shifts have been in place for several months and are expected to intensify as the holiday season approaches. Volkswagen says ramping up production of its best-selling combustion models is necessary to prevent a growing backlog of unfulfilled customer orders.
Balancing electrification goals with market reality
The automaker now faces the challenge of rebalancing production between electric and combustion-powered vehicles. While Volkswagen maintains a long-term strategy focused on electrification, the company is responding to a short-term market reality in which consumer interest remains strong for traditional engines.
The production slowdown highlights a broader tension across Europe’s automotive sector: reconciling ambitious EU emissions targets and regulatory pressure with an EV market that is not expanding as quickly as anticipated.
For now, Volkswagen’s approach appears pragmatic — adjust production to meet demand, keep sites flexible, and prioritize keeping factories running where customers are still buying.
