Employees of German car maker Volkswagen (VW) carry flags of German trade union IG Metall as they take part in a rally to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW plant in Zwickau, eastern Germany on July 9, 2026. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Jens SCHLÜTER / AFP via Getty Images)

Volkswagen (VW) employees, one with an IG Metall bag, attend a rally to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW headquarters on July 9, 2026 at the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, northern Germany. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Lisi Niesner / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Employees of German car maker Volkswagen (VW) wave flags and display a banner with the lettering 'To fight united for our future - all workforces across the VW Group' as they take part in a rally called by German trade union IG Metall to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW plant in Zwickau, eastern Germany on July 9, 2026. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Jens SCHLÜTER / AFP via Getty Images)

Volkswagen (VW) employees, one with a rainbow coloured IG Metall flag, attend a rally to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW headquarters on July 9, 2026 at the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, northern Germany. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Lisi Niesner / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Volkswagen (VW) employees carry flags of German trade union IG Metall at a rally to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW headquarters on July 9, 2026 at the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, northern Germany. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Lisi Niesner / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Volkswagen (VW) employees attend a rally to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW headquarters on July 9, 2026 at the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, northern Germany. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Lisi Niesner / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Daniela Cavallo (R), chairwoman of the central works council of German car maker Volkswagen (VW) and Thorsten Groeger (L) of German trade union IG Metall address journalists at a rally to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW headquarters on July 9, 2026 at the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, northern Germany. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Employees of German car maker Volkswagen (VW) wave flags and display banners as they take part in a rally called by German trade union IG Metall to protest against restructuring and mass job cut plans at the VW plant in Zwickau, eastern Germany on July 9, 2026. IG Metall is organising protests by VW workers outside plants across the country on July 9, when the carmaker's bosses will present the restructuring plans to the supervisory board. Europe's largest carmaker has come under intense pressure from US tariffs, slimmer profit margins from electric cars and above all intense competition in China, the world's largest auto market. VW, whose 10 brands range from mass-market Seats to premium Porsches, is already in the process of axing 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, including 35,000 at its namesake marque. (Photo by Jens SCHLÜTER / AFP via Getty Images)