No economically viable alternative for Audi Brussels, says management

There are no economically viable alternatives for the Audi Brussels plant, management announced at a special works council meeting on Tuesday. They are now concentrating all their efforts on finding potential investors. Preparations for social plan negotiations will start on 1 October.

According to Audi Brussels spokesman Peter D'hoore, "more than 20 alternative business models were examined as part of the information and consultation process, for example in the field of electromobility and battery technology, as well as life-cycle sustainability and new business models along the value chain".

However, Audi Brussels management concluded that none of these alternatives would be profitable for the Volkswagen Group. At the extraordinary works council meeting, management agreed with the social partners to set up a joint working group to further explore possible alternatives for the site. This process will begin next week.

Trade unionist Jan Baetens (ACV-Metea) said on Tuesday that potential investors have until 23 September to apply. Another special works council meeting is scheduled for 1 October, at which the unions will be informed.

Production has restarted

After several weeks of standstill, the Audi Brussels car plant restarted production on Tuesday morning. This is the first production since workers were told that the plant would not receive a new model from Audi and the Volkswagen group, leading to protests by workers and unions. Reconciliation talks last week led to the restart.

The appointment of a new managing director, Thomas Bogus, has helped to improve relations between the parties. According to Baetens, the new director has a more constructive attitude than his predecessor. "We are now getting clear answers, whereas before everything was vague. We see this as positive."

^{© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS}