After crisis meeting: Dirk Vogel in an interview with MDR Sachsen at the supplier trade fair Z

Companies, industry associations and the media have been eagerly awaiting the results of the supplier conference on 13.03.2025 in Reinsdorf near Zwickau. Our AMZ Network Manager Dirk Vogel was there and was available for a short interview with MDR Sachsen afterwards. What better place to film than the AMZ joint stand at the Z supplier trade fair in Leipzig.

Here you can find the link to the MDR report: After crisis meeting with suppliers: Saxony wants to support the automotive industry | MDR.DE

After crisis meeting with suppliers: Saxony wants to support the automotive industry

The car industry in Saxony is also affected by VW’s cost-cutting plans – with widespread consequences for suppliers. According to Saxony’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, this is a setback for the state. The state government announced support following a meeting with suppliers.

From MDR SACHSEN

Saxony’s automotive suppliers are demanding a fair distribution of the production of new vehicle models from Volkswagen. Following a meeting with the Saxon state government in Reinsdorf, Dirk Vogel from the automotive supplier network AMZ said that the VW plant in Zwickau is one of the most efficient and sustainable locations with its regional supplier structure. It was therefore expected that the restructuring at VW would not be decided by political will alone.

Crisis meeting on the future of the Saxon automotive industry

In an interview with MDR SACHSEN prior to the meeting, Vogel called for better framework conditions such as affordable energy: “Otherwise, a key issue when we think about the transformation is the question of where we can get investment funds.” Vogel is hoping for economic stimulus packages from the German government and funds from Brussels.

Kretschmer: Need better framework conditions for the automotive industry

Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) announced his support after the meeting. Saxony is an industrial state and should remain so. “We need framework conditions that strengthen the automotive industry as a whole. The Free State is working on this together with industry,” said Kretschmer. He had repeatedly campaigned in Berlin and Brussels for important decisions to be taken. According to Kretschmer, an extension of the deadline for the CO2 fleet limits and more openness to technology are necessary.

VW reduces production in Zwickau

Volkswagen wants to cut 35,000 jobs nationwide due to sales problems. The Saxon sites are also affected. Production at the Zwickau e-car plant will be reduced to two Audi models. VW is also planning to turn Zwickau into a site for recycling vehicles.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs sees the relocation of production announced by VW as a setback for the Saxon economy. Some of the supplier companies are directly linked to the production cycle of the Zwickau plant, said Economics Minister Dirk Panter (SPD) according to a press release. Individual solutions and support measures were needed. In an interview with MDR SACHSEN, Panter announced a new automotive dialog in southwest Saxony.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the automotive sector accounts for more than a quarter of industrial turnover in Saxony. In 2023, 95,000 people were employed in the sector. In addition to the six Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche plants, more than 800 suppliers are active in the state

MDR (kbe)/dpa

After crisis meeting: Dirk Vogel in an interview with MDR Sachsen at the supplier trade fair Z

After crisis meeting with suppliers: Saxony wants to support the automotive industry

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