Germany news: VW to step up cost-cutting program

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• The brand chief at carmaker Volkswagen says 'there is no time to lose' as the company pursues a drastic cost-cutting agenda
• Israel's ambassador to Germany says the victory of the Left Party in Berlin state elections poses 'a concrete and direct danger' to the capital's Jewish population
• The conservative bloc of Friedrich Merz is marking 150 years since the birth of the Federal Republic's first chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, with a conference

This is a roundup of the top headlines from and about Germany on Tuesday, September 22, 2026:

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Skip next section Israeli ambassador sees Left Party victory in Berlin as danger to Jews

September 22, 2026

Israeli ambassador sees Left Party victory in Berlin as danger to Jews

The Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, says the win by the socialist Left Party at Berlin state elections on Sunday poses a "direct existential danger" for the Jewish community in the German capital.

"The strong performance of the Left at the Berlin elections should worry anyone who cherishes the continued existence of Jewish life in this city," he told the German DPA news agency.

"The completely unbridled antisemitism that has manifested itself in this party has been given a new political dimension by its rise to the strongest force," Prosor said.

Elif Eralp, the Left's top candidate who might become the governing mayor of Berlin, has said that antisemitism was not stronger in her party than in society at large.

"The overwhelming majority of the party is clearly in favor of protecting Jewish life and the strength of Jewish life," she said at a discussion run by the Jewish Community in Berlin (JGzB).

"Antisemitism is a problem in society in general and exists also within the Left Party," she said.

Elif Eralp: From daughter of refugees to Berlin mayor?

https://p.dw.com/p/5N0g2

Skip next section Volkswagen brand chief pledges to step on the gas with cost-cutting measures

September 22, 2026

Volkswagen brand chief pledges to step on the gas with cost-cutting measures

German carmaker Volkswagen intends to accelerate the ongoing cost-cutting program at its core brand, Thomas Schäfer, the brand chief of Volkswagen Passenger Cars said on Monday.

"We have absolutely no time to lose and will therefore significantly ramp up our performance program once again," Schäfer said.

His remarks at a staff meeting at the company's main plant in Wolfsburg came as automotive workers across Germany held protests, calling on management to secure jobs.

Schäfer said around 16,300 redundancies have been finalized in Germany, with a total of just under 28,800 agreed upon by 2030, close to the target of 35,000.

He called this "good progress," but warned that it was not enough.

In early September, Volkswagen said it would be cutting a total of 100,000 jobs worldwide by the end of the decade.

Germany's carmakers are under pressure from increasing Chinese competition, while also having to contend with high energy prices, US tariffs and falling demand at home.

https://p.dw.com/p/5N0d7

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage

September 22, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag from DW's newsroom in Bonn!

Fallout from the weekend's state elections continues to dominate headlines in Germany, and we will be looking at party reactions to the results, which represent a considerable upheaval in the country's political landscape.

Germany's automotive industry is also facing great changes in the face of multiple challenges, with key carmaker Volkswagen doubling down on streamlining measures it says are needed to remain competitive.

And, as a reflection of the security challenges currently facing Europe, the Ruhr city of Essen is hosting a new defense industry trade fair, Eudex, featuring 350 exhibitors from 28 countries.

Read on here for more details on these and other stories currently hitting the headlines in Germany.