Bosch to deepen job cuts: another 750 positions in Abstatt amid AfD criticism

New layoffs at Bosch

The Bosch group plans to cut 750 jobs at its plant in Abstatt, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, by the end of 2029, Gazeta.Ru reported, citing Handelsblatt. The layoffs will affect the Mobility division, which develops automotive systems. The company attributed the decision to the difficult situation in the automotive industry, declining demand in Europe, and growing competition from Asian manufacturers offering cheaper solutions. In addition, part of the development work is being moved to Bosch's Chinese sites.

Political reaction

Alice Weidel, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, linked the layoff plans to the policies of Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a post on X. 'This will bring the total number of job cuts to 23,650,' she wrote. Weidel called the German authorities' energy policy 'the stupidest in the world' and stated: 'Merz is leading our country ever deeper into the abyss.' Earlier, as the outlet notes, the politician had already accused Merz of pursuing policies against the interests of her own people.

Context of the layoffs

This is not the first round of staff cuts at the group: in late September, according to DPA, Bosch planned to halve the workforce at its Nuremberg plant due to a shortage of orders for internal combustion engine and fuel cell components, which are losing demand amid growing demand for electric vehicles in the European Union. Thus, the Abstatt cuts affect a different area — automotive systems development — indicating that the group is under pressure across several product lines at once. The figure for the total number of job cuts (23,650) comes from Weidel herself; the publication contains no confirmation of this total from the company itself.