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Cost pressure forces Swoboda to close in Schorndorf: 140 jobs at risk!
Swoboda is closing its Schorndorf location by 2026, affecting 140 employees. Reasons: cost pressure and lack of competitiveness.
Cost pressure forces Swoboda to close in Schorndorf: 140 jobs at risk!
The Bavarian Swoboda Group has big plans: the company will close its sales and development center in Schorndorf by mid-2026, which will affect around 140 employees. High cost pressure and declining competitiveness are forcing the company to take such steps. Swoboda, headquartered in Wiggensbach, employs more than 4,000 people worldwide and also operates locations in Fürth, Karlsruhe and Schorndorf itself. The closure is part of a comprehensive restructuring that also involves job cuts at the headquarters, reports Mercury.
The development departments for sensors, electronics and systems as well as the areas of sales, purchasing, quality, testing and equipment construction are located in Schorndorf. The capacities of the Schorndorf location are to be distributed among the other German locations. Although initial discussions have been initiated with the works council, there has so far been no agreement on a social plan or severance pay. This closure is part of a worrying trend within the German automotive industry.
Concerns about the automotive industry
A more worried mood is spreading among employees in the automotive and supplier industries. Germany is considered one of the most important locations for vehicle construction and the supply industry, and yet many plants are only operating at two-thirds capacity. Even internationally operating companies such as Tesla have production facilities in Germany, but weak sales in the car sector remain noticeable BR.
The uncertainty is also reflected in further announced plant closures and job cuts that are already becoming apparent in the industry. At Volkswagen, for example, a total of 35,000 jobs are expected to be lost by 2030, which is putting experts on alert. The structural change, which has been underway for years, has also affected premium manufacturers such as Mercedes and Porsche. Operating processes are being adjusted, production lines are being outsourced, and short-time work is the order of the day. At Schaeffler, for example, “adjustments” are being discussed, but without the severity of the cuts at ZF or other companies being reported Deutschlandfunk.
The path to e-mobility
The promising change to e-mobility has not yet been reflected in the hoped-for sales. Despite rising sales, demand remains below expectations and the production of electric vehicles requires fewer components, which is hitting many suppliers hard. The dependence on deliveries from abroad, especially from China, is becoming another growing risk factor.
The challenges remain numerous: a lack of purchasing incentives, the need for comprehensive charging infrastructure and the urgency of transformation due to changing market conditions are causing problems for many manufacturers. The fact that the influence of US tariffs has long been noticeable in the German auto industry has already been discussed many times. Audi lost hundreds of millions due to tariffs and many German companies have to watch how they can compete with new market players such as BYD from China.
The anxious question remains: How many other locations are affected? While Swoboda is implementing its closure plans, there are rumblings throughout the industry. The ongoing restructuring process makes it clear that German carmakers are facing a monumental upheaval as they strive to keep pace with global developments.