The absurdity of thinking in the old paradigm, where cost-cutting, austerity, and mass layoffs are dominant concepts, is shown by the case of Volkswagen. The company’s managers are pursuing their dream of e-mobility and the Green Deal, plus retooling to military production; the management wants to save 31 billion euros through “restructuring” by 2030.

But restructuring will first cost the company 10 billion euros for job cuts alone, to which 6 billion euros have to be added, involving other costs at the four plants in Emden, Hanover, Zwickau and Neckarsulm where car production will be stopped. Overall, the restructuring could thus initially cost up to 16 billion euros. Media like Spiegel and Handelsblatt reported the figures based on insiders, but a Volkswagen spokesman declined to comment on confidential documents.