Volkswagen Embraces Opportunity for Weapons Involvement
Following the EU's announcement of a significant increase in defense spending, Oliver Blume stated, "All options are on the table." Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Volkswagen's CEO Oliver Blume has indicated that the company is considering alterations to its production focus, potentially venturing into weapons and military equipment manufacturing. This statement follows a recent announcement by the EU regarding a substantial plan to invest up to €870 billion in its defense sector.
The automaker has recently experienced falling sales and profits, prompting it to announce plant closures and significant layoffs in Germany for the first time. Germany's economy faced challenges in 2023, marking it as the worst-performing major economy globally with a contraction of 0.3%. The situation is expected to result in minimal growth in 2024, leading toward a recession partly attributed to the loss of affordable energy sources from Russia due to sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.
In a conversation with German state broadcaster NDR on Tuesday, Blume stated that Volkswagen is carefully evaluating the needs of the defense industry. “All options are on the table,” he said, mentioning the possibility of converting some factories from civilian to military production. “We are fundamentally open to such topics,” Blume added.
The idea of Volkswagen shifting towards military production has garnered support from Rheinmetall, Germany's largest arms manufacturer. Rheinmetall's CEO, Armin Papperger, noted on Wednesday that the VW factory in Osnabrueck would be well-suited for such a conversion.
Historically, Volkswagen has experience in military vehicle production, having manufactured vehicles for the Wehrmacht during World War II, including the lightweight transporter Kübelwagen and the amphibious four-wheel-drive Schwimmwagen. Additionally, a VW plant contributed to the assembly of components for the V-1 flying bomb, an early cruise missile used by the Nazis.
The EU's push for militarization has gained momentum following criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding European NATO members' defense spending. In response, Brussels unveiled a significant militarization initiative, championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Known as ReArm Europe, the proposal could allocate €800 billion towards the defense sector over the next four years. While this announcement led to a surge in share prices for Europe’s largest weapons manufacturers, Dutch lawmakers have rejected the plan, citing financial concerns.
Moscow has expressed disapproval of the EU's militarization agenda, asserting that it primarily targets Russia and has caused “deep concern.” The initiative comes amidst ongoing negotiations between Russia and the U.S. aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
The automaker has recently experienced falling sales and profits, prompting it to announce plant closures and significant layoffs in Germany for the first time. Germany's economy faced challenges in 2023, marking it as the worst-performing major economy globally with a contraction of 0.3%. The situation is expected to result in minimal growth in 2024, leading toward a recession partly attributed to the loss of affordable energy sources from Russia due to sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.
In a conversation with German state broadcaster NDR on Tuesday, Blume stated that Volkswagen is carefully evaluating the needs of the defense industry. “All options are on the table,” he said, mentioning the possibility of converting some factories from civilian to military production. “We are fundamentally open to such topics,” Blume added.
The idea of Volkswagen shifting towards military production has garnered support from Rheinmetall, Germany's largest arms manufacturer. Rheinmetall's CEO, Armin Papperger, noted on Wednesday that the VW factory in Osnabrueck would be well-suited for such a conversion.
Historically, Volkswagen has experience in military vehicle production, having manufactured vehicles for the Wehrmacht during World War II, including the lightweight transporter Kübelwagen and the amphibious four-wheel-drive Schwimmwagen. Additionally, a VW plant contributed to the assembly of components for the V-1 flying bomb, an early cruise missile used by the Nazis.
The EU's push for militarization has gained momentum following criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding European NATO members' defense spending. In response, Brussels unveiled a significant militarization initiative, championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Known as ReArm Europe, the proposal could allocate €800 billion towards the defense sector over the next four years. While this announcement led to a surge in share prices for Europe’s largest weapons manufacturers, Dutch lawmakers have rejected the plan, citing financial concerns.
Moscow has expressed disapproval of the EU's militarization agenda, asserting that it primarily targets Russia and has caused “deep concern.” The initiative comes amidst ongoing negotiations between Russia and the U.S. aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
