German automaker Mercedes-Benz has allowed for the possibility of closing two of its plants in Germany if the company fails to achieve cost reductions and an increase in the work week. This is reported by BELTA with reference to the newspaper Die Welt.

Mercedes-Benz production manager Michael Schibe emphasized at a meeting at the plant in Sindelfingen that preserving all facilities requires a significant reduction in costs. "If we fail to do so, we will have to close the German assembly plant and the German power unit plant," he said. Thus, the company has for the first time officially confirmed earlier media reports about the possible closure of German plants.

Mercedes-Benz management stated back in June that it was necessary to increase productivity in Germany. To cut costs, management proposed increasing working hours without raising wages, but the works council opposed this. The duration of the work week became a separate point of contention. As Die Welt reports, citing Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz management demands abolishing the 35-hour work week and extending it to 38 hours. The IG Metall trade union opposes such a change.