Audi to end production in Brussels in February

Audi has been considering closing the Brussels plant for some time and has been consulting with works councils and trade unions for months, as required by law in Belgium. The company management intends to conclude this information and consultation process in two weeks' time.

The factory with 3,000 employees only produces a single model, the Q8 e-tron electric SUV. Its sales figures are shrinking. The factory has very high logistics costs because there are only a few suppliers nearby. The location between a residential area, railroad tracks and the highway makes expansion difficult. The parent company Volkswagen is in crisis and does not want to launch a new model in Brussels.

Talks are still underway with a potential investor, according to Audi. The company had already spoken to more than 20 potential investors from the automotive industry, without any prospect of a viable concept for the site and the employees.