Schaeffler announces 3,460 job cuts in Europe and closure of four German sites
Published · Updated
What happened
Schaeffler AG announced a restructuring program that will reduce 3,460 positions in Europe and approximately 2,660 in Germany, and said four German sites will be closed.
Why it matters
The announcement adds a new round of job losses and site closures in Germany's automotive supply chain. It raises near-term questions about works council negotiations, regional labour-market effects and whether further suppliers will make similar adjustments.
Schaeffler AG said on November 3 that it will launch a performance improvement program affecting 3,460 positions in Europe, including about 2,660 in Germany. The company said it plans to close four German locations in Berlin, Dortmund, Morbach and Schwalbach as part of structural adjustments tied to conditions in the automotive industry. The announcement creates an immediate industrial-policy and labour-relations issue in Germany because the cuts are concentrated domestically and involve plant closures rather than attrition alone.
Watch for
Schaeffler AG filing or statement by 2026-11-07 specifying implementation timing for the Berlin, Dortmund, Morbach and Schwalbach closures IG Metall acknowledgement by 2026-11-07 of talks on a reconciliation-of-interests or social plan covering the affected German sites Federal Employment Agency regional offices by 2026-11-07 publishing notices on mass-layoff filings linked to Schaeffler locations Works council statement by 2026-11-07 confirming whether compulsory redundancies are planned or whether cuts will rely on attrition and severance
Sources
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