The Golf is the most important product of the largest German industrial group VW. Here, of all things, there is still a considerable problem in production. The works council is alarmed - and sees serious failures of the board.
Wolfsburg (dpa) - The ongoing production problems with the new Golf 8 lead to violent resentment in the works council and in parts of the Volkswagen workforce.
Of the more than 100,000 planned units of the most important model, just under 8,400 were completed at the Wolfsburg main plant during the start-up last year. The employee representatives named these figures in the issue of the internal newspaper "Mitbestießen" published on Thursday. The main reason are the malfunctions in the software and electronics of the new car.
The company had already spoken of a "flat start-up curve" - management apparently is still not getting the difficulties under control. Works council chief Bernd Osterloh does not see the responsibility for this in the workforce, but above all in the management staff: "Here, over-ambitious board members wanted to stuff too much technology into a vehicle too quickly and therefore failed."
According to the employee representatives, the Golf-8-Start has failed because the numbers achieved so far are a tragedy. Osterloh said that after talking to colleagues, he also had the impression: "Some superiors put enormous pressure on us employees. It is clear that such behavior can make you sick."
Such words are unusually harsh for VW relationships, where works council and management often act in concert in the sense of "co-management". With regard to the "social competence" of some managers in connection with the slow start to golf, Osterloh said: "Many have it, but some do not. Whoever simply passes on pressure from top to bottom lacks this competence." One is "horrified at how careless and weak the board of directors set up the whole project well before the start". The expectation is now "a clear word from the top" and management taking responsibility.
Reports of restricted functionality of certain electronic and software components in the preparation of the new model had already been published last spring. Employees now explained that apart from that, everything is usually fine - but with increasing connectivity, digital technologies are indispensable. VW also advertises corresponding special equipment.
The lack of understanding among dealers and customers is growing, Osterloh emphasized. For example, drive variants, hybrid models or paint colors that are usually in high demand could still not be supplied. "How can it be that the Golf 8 has been in production since July and is still not available with a base engine?" Even more expensive models such as the Golf GTD, GTI and R did not appear for the time being.
There are also delays in the central VW project of the current year, the market launch of the new ID.3 electric car. The car manufactured in Zwickau is due to start in 2020 - together with the soon to be launched electric SUV ID.4. Both vehicles form the all-electric ID family, in which billions of dollars are invested and which is to become the core of the future model range in the era of e-mobility. Volkswagen recently officially confirmed for ID.3 that it was on schedule and would be ready in the summer.
Osterloh also sees job risks in the most important volume model so far, should the problems persist. "Now we all have to make sure that the Golf 8 finally comes on a ridgeline. But I already demand that this attempt be carefully examined again and that those responsible on the board for the software errors and delays are named. Who playing with golf also plays with the workplaces of employees. "