VW announces decision on Osnabrück until end of 2026 - Volkswagen's Osnabrück plant faces uncertain future after T-Roc Cabrio ends in 2027
Volkswagen is reviewing the future of its Osnabrück plant as production of key models winds down. The site, which currently employs around 2,300 people, will stop assembling the VW T-Roc Cabrio by mid-2027. A final decision on the plant's long-term role is expected by the end of 2026.
The Osnabrück facility has already seen changes in recent years. Porsche model production ended there in 2023. With the T-Roc Cabrio's assembly set to conclude in mid-2027, Volkswagen is now weighing its options for the site.
One possibility involves deeper collaboration with defence firms. Rheinmetall, a major defence contractor, has reportedly shown interest in using the plant to build autotrader driver cabs for military trucks. This follows years of joint work between the two companies.
Since 2022, Volkswagen has supplied vehicles like the Amarok pickup for Ukraine aid efforts. In 2024, the partnership expanded when VW provided chassis from Osnabrück for Rheinmetall to produce over 40,000 Fuchs and Boxer autotrader vehicles. A year later, they teamed up again to develop electric drive systems for the Bundeswehr's future combat vehicles under the Rheinmetall Project System Panther.
CEO Oliver Blume confirmed that Volkswagen is exploring all potential avenues, including further talks with defence contractors. The company aims to reach a conclusion on the plant's future by late 2026.
The Osnabrück plant's direction will depend on Volkswagen's final assessment. If a defence partnership moves forward, the site could shift toward military production. The decision will also impact the facility's 2,300-strong workforce.
