Winterkorn: The Brussels plant has a future

The production of the future entry-level Audi model A1 at the Brussels plant could ensure employment for up to 3,000 people at the site from 2009. This was the result of a summit meeting between Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piech, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, and Prof. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG and designated Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Employment Minister Peter Vanvelthoven.

Winterkorn welcomed the open and objective atmosphere of the meeting. “Today, we have taken a key step in the interests of the workforce at the Brussels plant. Both sides agree that this plant has a future.” He added that all concerned had demonstrated a clear will to find constructive solutions.

Winterkorn explained the possibility of producing a new Audi model at Brussels from 2009 to the government representatives. “This will be an entry-level model designated as A1. Considerably more than 100,000 vehicles per year could be produced, if this proves to be viable at the Brussels plant.” This would allow as many as 3,000 people to be employed at the site. Some of these people would not be employed directly by Volkswagen but by other companies.

Another prerequisite would be to find a transitional solution for the employees concerned up to the possible start of production in cooperation with the Belgian government and employees’ representatives. “We will be holding intensive negations with all concerned over the next few weeks. I am confident that we will find a way,” Winterkorn said. He also indicated that investment in the Brussels plant could start in 2008 if the Audi A1 project were implemented.

Winterkorn was convinced that negotiations could continue in an objective atmosphere. In this connection, he stressed that the resumption of production at the plant, which has currently been halted, would be a key signal.