How Volkswagen Broke (Germany's Industrial Crisis Explained)

Volkswagen is drawing up plans to cut up to 100,000 jobs and close four German factories — the deepest cut in its 89-year history.Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LZv4xR172nDxtYccm5q5FTlRd9k4DpUsaDkUDiLnWXQ/edit?usp=sharingHow did the company that put the world on wheels, the largest company in the EU, end up here?In this deep dive, we break down exactly how Volkswagen broke: the collapse of its once-dominant China business, the €12 billion Cariad software disaster, the "Christmas miracle" union deal that cut 35,000 jobs in 2024, and the reported 2026 restructuring that would double those cuts and shut the very EV plants VW called its future. We cover the €130 billion investment pullback, the union war over co-determination, the BYD threat, and what it all means for the future of German industry.Note: the 100,000 figure and plant closures are reported plans (Manager Magazin), unconfirmed by Volkswagen. We flag what's decided vs. what's still a negotiating position throughout.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 The people's car that built an empire01:28 How big Volkswagen really got05:54 The China collapse10:56 The €12 billion software disaster15:52 The 35,000-job "Christmas miracle"20:59 The 100,000 bombshell25:56 The union war30:40 What it all means📊 Sources for every stat are pinned in the comments.💬 Is management's radical surgery the only way to save VW — or are workers being billed for management's failures? And which legacy automaker cracks next? Let me know below.🔔 Subscribe for deep dives on how the giants rise and fall.#Volkswagen #VW #GermanEconomy #BYD #EVs #ChinaEconomy #Autoindustry #Economics #BusinessNews #Layoffs