VW Forest must save EUR 100,000 a day

29 March 2004

BRUSSELS – German carmaker Volkswagen has ordered its factory in the Brussels suburb of Forest to save EUR 100,000 a day on its current running costs by 2005, Belgian press reports said on Monday.

The edict comes as part of a massive company-wide economy drive which Volkswagen hopes will enable it to save EUR 2 billion over the coming two years.

Management at Forest suggested on Monday that savings could be made by closing the plant for an extra week every year.

But trade unions are worried that the new orders could mean job losses, possibly for up to 500 staff on short-term contracts.

Volkswagen’s massive economy drive follows the publication of dire economic results earlier this year.

Subject: Belgian news