Car group reports 54% drop in pre-tax profits as it says Iran war could affect demand for Audi and Porsche brands
Europes largest automaker, Volkswagen, is to shed 50,000 jobs by the end of the decade, as it faces falling sales in China and North America and punitive US tariffs imposed by Donald Trump .
The 10-brand group, whose luxury subsidiaries Porsche and Audi are also under pressure, said the jobs would go in Germany, affecting the entire group, as part of a restructuring drive in light of the darkening global business climate.
The group had already struck a deal with German trade unions at the end of 2024 to slash 35,000 jobs by 2030, in part by natural attrition through retirement and other staff departures.
Volkswagen revealed the updated plans as it announced a 54% drop in pre-tax profits. The group has been scaling back its targets for electric vehicle (EV) production in recent months, including at its Italian supercar manufacturer, Lamborghini .
As the US-Israeli military action against Iran stokes market uncertainty and drives up energy prices , Volkswagen warned that global turbulence would negatively affect its outlook.
Challenges are expected in particular from the macroeconomic environment, uncertainties regarding restrictions in international trade and geopolitical tensions, the company said.
This would increase competitive intensity and volatility on commodity, energy and foreign exchange markets, it said in a statement.
The Volkswagen Group chief executive , Oliver Blume, said later the Iran war was not hitting Volkswagens supply chain but could affect demand for its premium marques Audi and Porsche.
We are simply seeing how volatile and fragile our world is, with new issues arising every month, Blume said, pointing to a potential drag on sales from the conflict in the region, where volumes are modest but margins high.
The fall in profits, to 8.9bn (056.6bn), was largely attributable to US tariffs, the company reported, as well as a costly strategy shift at Porsche, which has postponed its transition to EVs owing to slack demand.
Porsches operating profit nearly vanished in 2025, falling by 98% to 90m.
Even before Trump slapped tariffs on foreign carmakers last year , Volkswagen was struggling with flat demand in Europe and the costs of investing in EVs despite disappointing demand and insufficient infrastructure.
Domestic competition ate away at the groups share in China, the worlds biggest car market. Blume announced the largest product campaign in our history there to try to claw back customers.
After three intensive years of realignment within the Volkswagen Group, we are seeing tangible progress, Blume said. At the same time, we are operating in a fundamentally different environment.
Reuters contributed to this report
汽车集团报告税前利润骤降54%，并称伊朗战争可能影响奥迪与保时捷品牌的市场需求
欧洲最大汽车制造商大众集团计划在本十年末裁员5万人，原因是其在中国和北美市场面临销量下滑，以及唐纳德·特朗普政府实施的惩罚性美国关税。
这家拥有10个品牌的集团表示，由于全球商业环境恶化，作为重组计划的一部分，将在德国削减工作岗位，此举将影响整个集团。其旗下豪华品牌保时捷和奥迪目前也面临压力。
该集团已于2024年底与德国工会达成协议，计划到2030年削减3.5万个工作岗位，部分将通过退休等自然减员方式实现。
大众汽车在公布税前利润骤降54%的同时披露了最新计划。近几个月来，该集团一直在下调电动汽车（EV）的产量目标，其旗下意大利超级跑车制造商兰博基尼也不例外。
随着美以两国对伊朗的军事行动加剧市场不确定性并推高能源价格，大众汽车警告称，全球动荡将对其前景产生负面影响。
该公司表示，挑战尤其可能来自宏观经济环境、国际贸易限制的不确定性以及地缘政治紧张局势。
该机构在声明中表示，这将加剧“竞争强度”，并增加“商品、能源和外汇市场”的波动性。
大众集团首席执行官奥利弗·布鲁姆（Oliver Blume）随后表示，伊朗战争尚未波及大众的供应链，但可能影响其高端品牌奥迪和保时捷的市场需求。
布卢姆表示："我们正亲眼目睹世界的脆弱性与动荡性——每月都有新问题出现。"他特别指出该地区冲突可能对销售造成拖累，尽管当地销量有限，但利润空间可观。
该公司报告称，利润下降至89亿欧元（66亿英镑）主要归因于"美国关税"，以及保时捷因需求疲软推迟向电动车转型所导致的高成本战略调整。
保时捷2025年营业利润暴跌98%，仅剩9000万欧元，几乎归零。
早在特朗普去年对外国汽车制造商加征关税之前，大众汽车就已在欧洲面临需求疲软的问题，同时还要承担投资电动汽车的高昂成本——尽管市场需求令人失望且基础设施不足。
在国内竞争对手的蚕食下，该集团在全球最大汽车市场中国的份额持续下滑。为此，集团CEO布鲁默（Blume）宣布在中国启动“史上最大规模产品攻势”，以期赢回消费者。
大众汽车集团首席执行官布鲁姆表示："经过三年密集的内部调整，我们已取得实质性进展。但与此同时，我们正面临一个截然不同的运营环境。"
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