Volkswagen workers criticise bosses before cost-cut talks

Volkswagen workers have criticised the German carmaker's management in an internal survey seen by AFP, increasing pressure before senior executives begin meetings with employees about the company's turnaround plans.

Employees ranked what they called the board's poor communication as their top grievance, ahead of worries about jobs and possible factory closures.

CEO Oliver Blume and other executives are due to tour Volkswagen sites this week. In an intranet post seen by AFP, Blume said the situation was critical and that the company was not making enough money to secure long-term investment in new technologies, products and locations.

Volkswagen has already agreed about 50,000 job cuts across brands including Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche. The company has since said a further 50,000 positions could be cut.

Several German plants, including sites in Zwickau, Emden, Hannover, Osnabrueck and Neckarsulm, have been listed for possible closure.

Volkswagen's supervisory board, which includes major shareholders and labour representatives, is discussing turnaround plans as the company faces Chinese competition, uneven demand and US tariffs.