German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has called on Volkswagen to refrain from factory closures. "The locations should be preserved," he said during a visit to the VW plant in the north-western city of Emden.

In view of the crisis in the German automobile industry, Economy Minister Robert Habeck is inviting stakeholders to a "car summit" next Monday. Habeck has invited the automotive industry to an exchange on the current situation,

Volkswagen said earlier this month it needed significant restructuring to stay competitive, and was considering shutting sites in Germany for the first time in its 87-year history

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that Berlin is looking into ways to support ailing carmaker Volkswagen amid the threat of job cuts. The firm has been grappling with weak electric vehicle sales.

Germany's government was considering ways for it to support Volkswagen, German economy minister and vice-chancellor Robert Habeck said on Thursday when asked about the threat of job cuts at the country's largest carmaker.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck wants to help the country's industry cope with electricity expenses by relieving it from high grid charges, but acknowledged it is unclear how this could happen.