Management at the embattled Audi Brussels site in Forest has confirmed that production will cease in February next year. The public revelation follows an extraordinary works council involving unions on Tuesday afternoon.
Audi Brussels has now announced its intention to cease production of Audi Q8 e-tron models at the Forest plant from 28 February 2025. For around 3,000 staff who work at the production plant, no redundancies are expected before the end of the year.
However, the carmaker has also confirmed that it is in contact with a potential investor for the site. This would be different to that which already bid for the site, a proposal that was dismissed as unviable.
In July, Audi Brussels announced plans to restructure its site in Forest which currently employs around 3,000 people. The German carmaker cited a slowdown in demand for the electric Q8 e-tron models produced in Brussels.
By September, the Volkswagen Group (which owns Audi) confirmed that it doesn't plan to produce any car models at its Forest site. Audi Brussels says it can find no other economically viable use for the plant.
Protesters pictured during a demonstration by Audi Brussels workers supported by the national trade union in solidarity, on Monday 16 September 2024 in Brussels. Credit: Belga
There were hopes that a buyer would step in to rescue jobs and prevent the site's closure. One unnamed investor did come forward with an offer but Audi Brussels deemed their plan to be unviable.
On Tuesday Peter D'hoore, Head of External Communication at Audi Brussels, confirmed that management is in contact with a new investor. "Audi Brussels is currently in contact with a potential investor."
He clarified that this is a different investor from that which had previously entered into talks. D'hoore disclosed that the current investor is from the commercial vehicle sector (trucks and buses) and had already been contacted by Audi earlier.
Workers gather on the parking lot as a general staff meeting is held at Audi Brussels, called by the common trade union front, at the entrance of the Audi Brussels plant, in Vorst-Forest, Brussels, Tuesday 20 August 2024, while a works council is held inside the plant. Credit: Belga
Management has said that it plans to finalise the information and consultation process, within the framework of the Renault Act, at the next extraordinary works council meeting scheduled for 12 November.
The confirmed closing date of the Brussels site comes just a day after the Volkswagen Group announced plans to shut at least three factories in Germany, and lay off tens of thousands of staff.
