Volkswagen brand chief Thomas Schäfer has announced – in no uncertain terms – that the group’s Volkswagen brand is no longer internationally competitive, and that it is starting cost-cutting measures beginning with headcount reductions. The news comes as incumbent automotive manufacturers including the wider VW Group, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis have all announced revisions to their electric vehicle (EV) development plans. Schäfer specifically stated, “With many of our pre-existing structures, processes, and high costs, we are no longer competitive as the Volkswagen brand,” really driving home that the company is in dire need of change if it is going to succeed into the future. VW will be in talks with the relevant unions to begin headcount reduction as soon…