Layoffs expected at ZF in Koblenz, affecting hundreds of employees
In the city of Koblenz, two major automotive suppliers, ZF and Stabilus, have announced plans to cut jobs as part of larger savings programmes.
IG Metall, the German metalworkers' union, has invited the press to a conference on Friday afternoon to discuss these developments.
ZF, based in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, plans to reduce its workforce at the Koblenz site by around 450 jobs by the year 2030. The focus of production at the Koblenz site will be on brake control systems (IBC) and wheel brake systems. Despite the works agreement in Koblenz that excludes dismissals until the end of 2026, the company had already announced last year that it wanted to cut up to 14,000 jobs nationwide.
Stabilus, another automotive supplier based in Koblenz, also plans to cut around 450 jobs worldwide as part of a savings program. The percentage of jobs to be cut at Stabilus is around six percent. The total number of jobs at Stabilus worldwide is around 8,200. It is not yet clear whether jobs will also be cut at the Koblenz site of Stabilus.
CEO Michael Büchsner of Stabilus referred to the difficult situation in the industry as the reason for the savings program. He stated that the job cuts only affect the Koblenz site and not the sites in the Ahrweiler district or the new building in Niederzissen.
Despite the planned job cuts, both ZF and Stabilus consider the Koblenz sites to remain important parts of their development and production networks in Germany in the long term. The series business in wheel brake systems will remain in Koblenz for the coming years, ensuring that the site will continue to be one of the city's most important employers.
IG Metall has been protesting against the job cuts at the automotive suppliers for several months, including in Koblenz. The works council has been invited to enter into timely negotiations with both companies to find a socially acceptable reduction in order to avoid dismissals.
Currently, around 500 people work in production, around 1,250 in research and development, and a further 350 in administration in Koblenz. The job cuts will mainly affect research and development, with around 370 jobs to be cut, and a further 80 in administrative areas.
These developments come at a time when the automotive industry is facing persistent weak market conditions and trade uncertainties such as US import tariffs or export restrictions for rare earths from China. Around the turn of the millennium, job losses at the automotive supplier Stabilus in Koblenz were possibly announced due to restructuring or economic challenges, similar to the reasons affecting ZF.
Despite these challenges, the city of Koblenz remains an important hub for the automotive industry, with its significant employment and contributions to research and development.
