Volkswagen to cut model variants and trims to save for emissions penalties

Volkswagen chief labour representative Bernd Osterloh told reporters that reducing manufacturing complexity was a simple way to make big financial savings as it attempts to offset the cost of recalls and fines.

“We from the works council have long flagged the huge range of model variants and different components,” Osterloh said.

“That brings enormous complexity and adds to costs, for example, for logistics. We can take out costs there on a large scale and don’t have to talk about job cuts.”

Bloomberg reports Volkswagen’s senior executives will also accept lower bonuses to assist in the company’s wider savings effort.

The brand is targeting 5 billion euros ($7.4 billion) in savings through efficiency gains. It’s also planning to cut investment into the brand by 1 billion euros ($1/5 billion) per year.

Volkswagen currently estimates the emissions scandal will cost the brand 8.7 billion euros ($12.8 billion).

Volkswagen has admitted that approximately 11 million vehicles powered by its 1.2-, 1.6- and 2.0-litre diesel engines sold around the world have emissions test cheating software installed. Another 85,000 Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles equipped with the company’s 3.0-litre V6 diesel sold in the US have similar emissions control devices, while Volkswagen has also revealed that 800,000 vehicles could be affected by an issue causing CO₂ emission “irregularities”.

Volkswagen last week outlined how it plans to fix the 1.6- and 2.0-litre diesel engines fitted with emissions testing defeat devices.

More: All the news relating to the Volkswagen Group's dieselgate dramas.