Brussels plant closure hits Audi profits, Defence minister visits site
The closure of the Audi plant in Forest, Brussels, reduced the company's profits by around 1.6 billion euros last year. This was announced by CFO Jürgen Rittersberger at a press conference on the Volkswagen subsidiary's annual results on Tuesday.
Audi's operating profit was 3.9 billion euros in 2024, a sharp drop from 6.28 billion euros the year before. Much of that decline was due to the impact of the closure of Audi Brussels, CFO Jürgen Rittersberger said on Tuesday.
According to Rittersberger, the cost of closing Audi Brussels amounts to around 1.6 billion euros. Most of the money is going to the social plan for employees at the Forest plant. Before the closure, the plant employed around 3,000 people.
Audi shuttered the plant, which only produced the Audi Q8 e-tron, due to limited demand for that model. "Closing the factory was a difficult decision. However, market developments, and specifically for the Q8 e-tron built in Brussels, made the closure necessary," said Rittersberger on Tuesday.
Francken visits Forest site
What should happen now with the Brussels site is being discussed with the Belgian government and local authorities, the CFO added. Earlier this month, Defence minister Theo Francken said he wants to turn it into a defence production site.
On Tuesday, Francken visited the site, along with companies from the defence sector and employer organisations. "During the visit, the representatives of the companies had the opportunity to get a picture of the site," Audi Brussels spokesperson Peter D'hoore told Belga. "As for the future use of the site, I can report that we are currently examining different scenarios."
Francken said the plant would not produce ammuntion, but other defence-related technologies, and would provide jobs for 2,000 to 3,000 people. But Forest mayor Charles Spapens has spoken out against Francken's plan, saying that it would be "the first place to be bombed in the event of a foreign attack."
Entrance of the Audi Brussels plant, in Vorst-Forest, Brussels © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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