Belgian car industry unions protest against announced job cuts

Electric car manufacturers are more heavily affected by the sector’s difficulties, such as Audi Brussels, which is planning layoffs from October 2024.

A large demonstration is planned for Monday, September 16 in the streets of Brussels at the call of the Belgian unions of the automobile industry. They are worried about the job cuts announced in the sector. Electric car manufacturers are particularly affected, victims of a sharp slowdown in the European market under the threat of Chinese competition.

One factory is particularly symbolic of these difficulties: Audi Brussels, where volunteer employees are supposed to return to work on Tuesday, September 17 after several weeks of strike action.

Since Audi announced last year that it was stopping production of its electric Q8 model in Brussels, 4,200 employees and subcontractors have felt like they were on borrowed time. No new models have been announced for production and the first layoffs are expected in October.

“At the moment we don’t know where we’re going or who’s going to be fired in October. What future? There isn’t one. They’ve been pretty clear about that.”says Constantino Blumetti, who has worked at Audi Brussels for 27 years. “If he needs 10,000 or 20,000 cars, we will make them. We didn’t ask for anything, we didn’t ask for this disaster.”he denounces.

After several weeks of blockage, production is supposed to resume on Tuesday with the volunteer workers, but the heart is no longer in it. Johan Durieux, 27 years of seniority at Audi, feels like a lost bet.

“We were always led to believe that we would have a future in this factory. Electric doesn’t work, do you see the price of the car that we manufacture here in Brussels? It’s at least 90,000 euros! It’s not possible to sell cars like that.”

Johan Durieux, employee of Audi Brussels

to franceinfo

According to Sébastien Volder, who works for a subcontractor of the plant, Audi Brussels is emblematic of the difficulties of an entire sector. “It’s not just us, there are other factories closing all over Europe. It’s a shame to say that Europe is going in all directions.”he judges.

Last hope for Audi Brussels employees and subcontractors: that a buyer will now be found for their factory.