German carmaker announces readiness to produce weapons at its plants

The CEO of the German automobile concern Volkswagen (VW) Oliver Blume announced plans to begin production of military equipment at its plants.

In an interview with the German press, Blume noted that VW management is closely studying the growing defense needs of Germany, including in matters concerning vehicles for the needs of the Bundeswehr. The CEO of the German automaker recalled that the company has experience in producing vehicles for the German army. At the same time, according to him, there are currently no specific plans in this direction.

Volkswagen does have quite a wealth of experience in the production of military transport equipment. Even during World War II, the concern's enterprises served the needs of the Wehrmacht, in particular by producing multi-purpose vehicles and amphibious vehicles VW Typ 166 Schwimmwagen. In the post-war years, the auto concern produced Volkswagen Typ 181 SUVs for the West German army. In addition, Volkswagen subsidiaries produce vehicles for military needs.

A year earlier, VW faced serious problems caused by a decrease in demand for its products, especially electric cars, and increased competition with Chinese companies. Financial difficulties forced the concern to announce a large-scale cost-cutting program. The management of the German concern is considering various ways out of the crisis, including the transfer of some enterprises to Chinese automakers.

Comments

[BAI]

that the company has experience in producing vehicles for the German army.

Of course. That Hitler's brainchild would not have such experience!

[Machito]

Guns instead of oil.
Well, Europe can't live without beatings.
I wouldn't be surprised if German chemical plants start producing sarin, soman and other crap.

[rocket757]

Money has no smell... this has been known for a long time.
Politicians, they build their careers in any way, because their financial well-being depends on it....
But the people, the burghers, will pay for all this, one way or another... AS ALWAYS!

[Machito]

Quote: rocket757

Money has no smell... this has been known for a long time.
Politicians, they build their careers in any way, because their financial well-being depends on it....
But the people, the burghers, will pay for all this, one way or another... AS ALWAYS!

We need to make sure that the burghers are left without pants.
They must pay an iron price. (C) Game of Thrones.

[rocket757]

We have our own tasks, goals and what is characteristic is that when we achieve, fulfill, WIN, the people in Europe will feel it on their own skin, to the fullest extent!

[Lev_Russia]

The CEO of the German automobile concern Volkswagen (VW) Oliver Blume announced plans to begin production of military equipment at its plants.

Well, who cares... German cars are becoming uncompetitive, and the forelocks will take any weapon for free, without comparing or picking on it... By the way, if someone in the West hopes (including Trump) that the forelocks will ever pay for it, well, that's unlikely... They can promise, but they will never repay the debts... And that's their whole point...

[rocket757]

The European taxpayer will pay... by the way, from those countries where there is something to collect taxes from, from whom!

[cast iron]

I hope it doesn't turn out that Russian taxpayers will end up paying for the debts of the Ukrainian Mutants with their forelocks...

[BIGLESHIY]

Quote: rocket757

We have our own tasks, goals and what is characteristic is that when we achieve, fulfill, WIN, the people in Europe will feel it on their own skin, to the fullest extent!

Unfortunately, our country is not run by people who will take the iron price. As usual, all debts will be paid and another burden will be placed on the people of the victorious country.

[rocket757]

As an option/assumption, maybe it will turn out that way... so, never say never!

[Simargl]

Money doesn't smell ...

It's not even like that here: their sales have fallen and energy prices have risen. Pitchforks.
State order (any) will help to hold out. Not only everyone looks to the future.

[rocket757]

That's true, a state defense order can save a company from ruin, but it will come back to haunt taxpayers.

[orionvitt]

Quote: rocket757

may save the company from ruin, but it will come back to bite the taxpayers

There is no doubt that Volkswagen is capable of producing conventional military equipment. The production capacity allows it. The question is different. If consumers paid for cars, then who will pay for weapons? The state? And where is the money, resources, energy? At least Russia has a resource base and money from the sale of the same oil and gas. German taxpayers, you say, in a country where the economy is steadily declining, is doubtful. The only way out for them is, as they say, "to put the economy on a war footing," and this in turn means switching to an administrative command system of governance with an inevitable deterioration in the standard of living of the population. In our terms, it's simply a dictatorship. And knowing them inside out, you can be sure that their dictatorship will be openly Nazi.

[rocket757]

The rattling of weapons and military games are always expensive and the population pays for it...
Everything as usual.

[Simargl]

They've been shitting upside down for so long that they don't have any other way out (they do, but they won't go there)

[Vauxhall]

Quote: Bearded

Guns instead of oil.
Well, Europe can't live without beatings.

Only now you don't have to walk to them. The guys will deliver "heat carriers" to the addressee. As they say: light and heat to any point in the world... And this appendix of Eurasia will simply be removed.
As practice shows, the body can live without the appendix.

[Arkady007]

Well, that was to be expected.
If the auto industry is in decline, we need to look for where we can make money.

[zorglub bulgroz]

Geranium-type drones could be produced in the millions per year in car or motorcycle factories. China would need hundreds of millions per year.

[private person]

China will need hundreds of millions a year.

What will be needed and for what? Who is China fighting with?

[zorglub bulgroz]

If you lived where I live, with my Chinese wife, you would understand that peace is just a gap between two wars. Politicians here stir up the population.

[Thrifty]

What are they going to produce, or else the pursuit of the long euro could lead to an economic dead end. There is a lot of competition in Europe, other countries can make any equipment cheaper.

[carpenter]

Quote: Thrifty

There is a lot of competition in Europe; other countries can make any equipment cheaper.

Well, Volkswagen is moving its production to China.

[Vadim S]

Hitler's favorite plant, what else could it be sharpened for, who would doubt it! They didn't finish them off then, and now all this evil spirits have risen again

[victorlitvin]

Exactly... It's time to blow this plant to bits! They are our potential enemies.

[rocket757]

EVERYTHING is ready to attach itself to military orders.
Does this remind anyone of anything?

[carpenter]

Quote: rocket757

EVERYTHING is ready to attach itself to military orders.
Does this remind anyone of anything?

And what about - "Guns instead of meat!"

[rocket757]

So, "guns instead of meat/butter", this is practically the last stage before the big mess...

[SovAr238A]

Quote: rocket757

EVERYTHING is ready to attach itself to military orders.
Does this remind anyone of anything?

What does this remind you of?
MAN and Scania are Volkswagen.
Who makes European military trucks?
MAN...
What does sucking have to do with it?
Or are our Kamaz and Ural also getting hooked on military orders?

Well, where is your mind?

[rocket757]

I have it written somewhere, indicated WHO exactly wants/is ready to latch onto military orders?
I have about EVERYONE.
Kamaz and others, the same as everyone else... will never refuse a military order!
So, take care of your brains, smart guys... it won't hurt.

[dik-nsk]

Quote: SovAr238A

Well, where is your mind?

I agree, what's so special about it that a German plant is ready to produce for the German state? "sensation" and "exercises in wit" by inflated "generals" for stars are no longer surprising.

[ln_ln]

что здесь такого, что немецкий завод готов производить для немецкого же государства

Немецкий завод под названием "Народный автомобиль".
Гитлер собрал на этот завод деньги по подписке, а продукция куда пошла?

[2 Level Advisor]

journalistic manipulation, he said "In an interview with the German press, Blume noted that VW management is closely studying the growing defense needs of Germany, including in matters concerning vehicles for the needs of the Bundeswehr. The CEO of the German auto concern recalled that the company has experience in producing vehicles for the German army. At the same time, according to him, there are currently no specific plans in this direction." He did not say anything about "like in the 40s" .. i.e. he simply indicated that we can start doing it and that's it .. and the news is presented in a completely different way ...

[Fedor Sokolov]

I don’t like this militarization of Europe; as historical experience shows, it’s not a good thing.

[carpenter]

Quote: Fyodor Sokolov

I don’t like this militarization of Europe; as historical experience shows, it’s not a good thing.

Well, the Germans have not cancelled the idea of ​​"Drang nach Osten" since 1201.

[Dutchman Michel]

The company has experience in producing vehicles for the German army

Immediately after the end of the war, the victorious countries seriously discussed the issue of deindustrialization of Germany. It is a pity that it was never resolved.

[faiver]

I don't understand the author's and commentators' claims - why is the production of military products at Volkswagen bad? What do we care about the Germans?
In their own country, hell knows what's going on, but from TV and the media - "Everything is fine, beautiful marquise" and "Everything is going according to plan"...

[Zhenya Loza]

What exactly is bad in our country, and what is going on here? Can you give more details here, we are writing it down.

[carpenter]

Oliver Blume announced plans to begin production of military equipment at his plants.

Oh, how it's pressing, "and it wants money!" And already half of the production has been transferred to China.

[speed4fun]

We Europeans must regulate, control, reduce and even ban many imports from China and Southeast Asia. We cannot allow China and the European liberal elite (von der Leyen and her minions) to deindustrialize us and destroy our jobs.

[SovAr238A]

Oh, these absolutely stupid commentators...
Stick to the budget.

And this is on a military forum.
Where are the brains of these bad commentators?
They don't know that the largest European manufacturer of wheeled military vehicles is MAN.
Which is part of the VAG.
Even the Pantsirs for the UAE were created on the MAN basis.
It may be called Rheinmetall, but it is 100% MAN.
Just like our KAMAZ in all defense orders and sales is designated as Remdiesel.

And it would be foolish to think that our Kamaz and Ural would refuse defense orders.
People like you would be the first to brand the manufacturer as a traitor to the interests of the country.

And here you brand a German manufacturer for the German army...

How ridiculous you are in your attempts...

Well, every country defends itself.

[dik-nsk]

a pool has formed on the resource, who, for the stars drawn on their shoulder straps, practice backbiting and, as they think, wit, liking each other.. their comments under each article, regardless of the topic, do not carry any semantic load - they just want to earn a star.. you just need to stop reacting to them - perceive them as a group of bots, harmless and meaningless)

[Vauxhall]

Quote: SovAr238A

Quote: rocket757

EVERYTHING is ready to attach itself to military orders.
Does this remind anyone of anything?

What does this remind you of?
MAN and Scania are Volkswagen.
Who makes European military trucks?
MAN...
What does sucking have to do with it?
Or are our Kamaz and Ural also getting hooked on military orders?

Well, where is your mind?

By the way, the British army travels in MANs.

[guest]

Less than 90 years later, Hitler's Volkswagen returns to war footing
https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2025/03/12/ne-proshlo-i-90-let-osnovannyy-gitlerom-folksvagen-vozvrashchaetsya-na-voennye-relsy

[faiver]

So what? Should we outlaw all companies that worked for the Third Reich? Maybe we should demolish the Belarusian MAZ too?

[guest]

Quote: faiver

Let's declare all companies that worked for the Third Reich illegal?

This is still a little different, Volkswagen is the brainchild of Hitler and the name was adjusted to fit the ideology of that time.

[victorlitvin]

What's wrong with MAZ?

[faiver]

ask what he was born from...

[Corvair]

What will they be churning out, Schwimwagens or Kubelwagens?
Let them throw their economies to hell in an arms race against an imaginary enemy.

[victorlitvin]

Isn't it time to destroy this miracle production with missiles?
Have we already forgotten about the Great Patriotic War?

[Misha Prokhorenko]

He did a lot of work for Hitler.

[Viktor Sergeev]

Well, yes, he is ready, but where will he get gas, electricity and what will be the price of this weapon? The main thing for Germany now is to save energy resources, for this they are destroying their industry. By the way, where does Germany get money for the army?

[Panadol]

All this is true. But...
Firstly, where and when will they get the machinery for production?
Where will they get people who know how to produce weapons?
And the most interesting question: where will they get non-ferrous metal for production?
So, speak up, Emelya, it's your week!

[guest]

Volkswagen has learned nothing from history: the company wants to produce military vehicles
https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2025/03/14/volkswagen-istoriya-nichemu-ne-nauchila-kompaniya-hochet-vypuskat-voennye-avto