But even with growing sales, carmakers plan over 40,000 jobs cuts in the coming years, with Opel the latest to announce 2,100 voluntary departures Tuesday. "German manufacturers are well positioned with their premium brands," said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, industry expert at the University of Duisburg-Essen. "It's perfectly clear that SUVs drive sales and profits for the carmakers," said Stefan Bratzel of the Center of Automotive Management. But they are fundamental to plans – like VW's aim of selling 26 million electric vehicles and six million hybrids by 2029. That points to "a second major challenge" on the jobs front for the pillar of German industry, Dudenhöffer warned.

Source: The Local January 14, 2020 16:30 UTC