Sales Slump: Tesla Cuts 400 Jobs in Grünheide
The globally planned job cuts at Tesla also have implications for the US electric carmaker's Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin. The company announced the reduction of 400 jobs in a statement on Tuesday. Reactions to the job cuts vary as expected. Brandenburg's Minister of Economic Affairs, Jörg Steinbach (SPD), regretted the reduction but sees a measured approach by the company in cutting the jobs. Similar sentiments were expressed by CDU leader Jan Redmann, who also raised questions about the further planned expansion of the plant. For the opposition Left party, the job cuts are just the beginning of further possible measures.
Tesla plans a program for job cuts
To avoid compulsory redundancies, the company plans a "voluntary program" for the reduction of the 400 positions. Talks with the works council would be initiated to implement this program. Details on the design of the program were not initially disclosed by Tesla upon request.
"The currently weak sales market for electric cars also presents challenges for Tesla," was stated among other reasons for the job cuts. The plant now employs more than 12,000 people.
Minister of Economic Affairs sees no significant job cuts
According to Minister of Economic Affairs and Labor Jörg Steinbach (SPD), the job cuts are not as severe as initially feared. "A job cut of three percent without layoffs is carried out with a lot of restraint given the enormous workforce of currently more than 12,000 jobs," the minister said on Tuesday. In addition, former temporary workers have already been further mediated.
Last week, the company had announced that the contract for 300 temporary workers in Grünheide would not be extended. Tesla's contract partner had already been able to further mediate the majority of the affected temporary workers, it was stated.
CDU leader: Questions about Tesla's expansion plans arise
For the head of the Brandenburg CDU, Jan Redmann, employees can breathe a sigh of relief with the announcement of the job cuts and gain planning security. Nevertheless, he did not want to "conceal his disappointment" with regard to the company's original expansion plans. The move now raises doubts about whether the factory will be expanded as planned.
Tesla will, in addition to the existing 300-hectare factory site, construct a freight station, warehouses, and a company kindergarten on an additional approximately 170 hectares. According to an amended development plan that the municipality of Grünheide still has to approve, around 50 hectares of forest are to be cleared. The SPD faction in the Brandenburg state parliament considers it right to solve the situation together with the employees, as announced by Tesla. Faction leader Daniel Keller also warned against constantly badmouthing business settlements.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants to cut more than one in ten jobs at the company worldwide, and thus more than 14,000 jobs, in light of the slump in the electric car market and weak sales.
Left: State government must not simply accept job cuts
The Left in the Brandenburg state parliament sees the US company's announcement as just the beginning of potential further steps by the company. "Only the laws in Germany prevent short-term mass layoffs and set limits for Elon Musk. That's a good thing. The state government must not simply accept this," said Left faction leader Sebastian Walter. "If they now stand by idly, layoffs at will will become commonplace. We need secure and well-paid industrial jobs, and we are still far from that with Tesla."
The Prime Minister must actively support IG Metall in the fight for a collective agreement. Only in this way can it be prevented that "Elon Musk continues to play Wild East in Grünheide."
Translated automatically from German.Elektromobilität , Newsletter Elektromobilität , IAA Mobility , SUVs und Geländewagen , Hybrid , Antriebsarten, Kraftstoffe und Emissionen , Oberklasse- und Sportwagen , Carsharing , Autonomes Fahren (Straßenverkehr) , Ladeinfrastruktur , Verkehrspolitik , Formel E , Brennstoffzellen , Fahrzeug-Vernetzung und -Kommunikation , Fahrzeuge & Fuhrpark , Automotive-Messen & Veranstaltungen , Pkw, Kompakt- und Mittelklasse , Minis und Kleinwagen , E-Auto-Datenbank, E-Mobilität-/Automotive-Newsletter, E-Auto-Tests