Potsdam, GERMANY (dpa-AFX) - German car manufacturer Volkswagen intends
to close its design centre in Potsdam just outside Berlin.

'The function of the centre as a future lab for new technologies -
such as those around electromobility and the associated new customer
ecosystem - has been gradually integrated into the regular innovation
processes of the Volkswagen Group's brands,' a spokeswoman for
Volkswagen Group Services said on Wednesday.

'The operational business of the Volkswagen Group Future Centre
Europe will consequently be discontinued by the end of 2024,' she
said.

Some 100 employees are affected, dpa has learnt.

Volkswagen Group Services said they would not comment on the upcoming
discussions with employee representatives before they are concluded,
the spokeswoman stated. All activities within the Volkswagen Group
are being reviewed.

The originally envisaged role of the Volkswagen Group Future Centre
Europe GmbH in Potsdam as a future lab for vehicle design and the
digital user experience around the company's vehicles has now been
integrated into the series development of the group's brands.

The IG Metall union announced a protest rally for next Monday.

The centre in Potsdam is, alongside the centre in the northern city
of Wolfsburg where VW is headquartered, the second of its kind within
the car group. This is where research vehicles as well as future
visions and prototypes are created.

'We expect the group to engage with the employees as soon as possible
and to start the discussion about a changed course,' stated the
union.

The company's works council supports the workers from the centre in
Potsdam, according to a spokesman. The centre falls under the
responsibility of the subsidiary Volkswagen Group Services, where
unlike in the parent company Volkswagen AG, there are no employment
guarantees. 'We explicitly welcome the call for the rally,' he said.

The design centre was opened in 2005 and later restructured and
renamed. After the restructuring, it was considered the world's
largest future workshop of the group.

Potsdam Mayor Mike Schubert told the local news website Potsdamer
Neueste Nachrichten on Wednesday that the departure would be 'an
absolute loss' for Potsdam, as the city works together with the VW
Group and the centre.


Copyright dpa