Audi has announced the closure of its production facility in Brussels, Belgium, set for February 28, 2025, though there are still prospects for its future with potential new investments.
The Forest plant, which produces the Q8 e-tron and employs approximately 3,000 staff, will be the first factory shuttered by the Volkswagen Group in Europe. The decision follows a slowdown in demand for the Q8 e-tron, with no plans to manufacture other vehicles at the site.
The closure was confirmed during a recent works council meeting with unions. Production of the Q8 e-tron will continue until the facility’s closing date, and workers are expected to return from Christmas holidays to complete two final months of work across two shifts.
Audi has been exploring options to sustain the plant, engaging with 26 potential investors. However, the company stated that none have proposed a viable business plan.
Peter D’hoore, spokesperson for Audi Brussels, shared with The Brussel Times that no feasible alternatives have emerged to keep the site operational. “More than twenty alternative business models were analyzed, focusing on areas such as electromobility, battery technology, lifecycle sustainability, and new value chain models,” D’hoore noted. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with a new investor from the commercial vehicle sector, although specific details of these negotiations remain confidential.
Management at the Brussels plant is scheduled to finalize details and consult with workers at a works council meeting on November 12.
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