Thyssenkrupp Automotive Division Announces Significant Job Cuts at Struggling Site

The automotive division of Thyssenkrupp AG, a major player in the steel industry, has recently revealed plans for substantial job reductions, with one of its German sites facing severe impact.

Recent reports indicate that Thyssenkrupp AG, facing potential dismantling, is also grappling with challenges across its subsidiary segments. The auto parts supplier, Thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions, has disclosed intentions to cut jobs at four locations in Germany. Specifically, up to 230 positions, representing approximately 23% of the workforce, are set to be eliminated from the company's total of around 1,000 jobs.

Thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions is part of the automotive segment of Thyssenkrupp and is headquartered in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg. The affected sites include the main facility in Heilbronn, along with operations in Weinsberg, Leingarten (both in the Heilbronn district), and Mühlacker (Enzkreis). Reports have specified that the Mühlacker site will experience the most severe job losses.

According to local news, there is significant concern among the workforce at the Mühlacker facility, which employs approximately 180 individuals. This location, producing components for the Porsche Taycan electric sports car, faces particularly harsh cuts due to diminishing orders linked to a downturn in sales for the vehicle.

Due to the declining demand for the Taycan, Thyssenkrupp's Mühlacker facility has struggled with underutilization. The site has been operating under reduced hours for two years, transitioning from a three-shift to a single-shift operation. The newly announced job cuts, attributed to dramatically decreased production requests, represent another setback for employees enduring ongoing hardship.

The IG Metall union, alongside the site's works council, has criticized Thyssenkrupp for a lack of transparency regarding the job reduction plans and the specifics for each location. Nevertheless, the union has pledged to fight for every job affected by these employment cuts. A month prior, Thyssenkrupp announced the closure of another automotive site in Germany, which would impact around 300 workers.