ZF's savings plans for Koblenz: IG Metall demands a contract on site location
ZF's Job Cuts and Union Protests: Koblenz Site Remains Under Threat
ZF Friedrichshafen, the German automotive supplier, is currently undergoing significant job cuts and restructuring measures, with the Koblenz site being one of the locations affected. The Koblenz site specializes in the development of brake electronics and driving assistance systems.
In the first half of 2024, ZF reported a consolidated loss of 195 million euros. To address this financial strain, the company is targeting plants with low profit margins, including the Koblenz site. The management aims for each factory to achieve a profit margin of at least 19%, with failure potentially leading to closure or sale.
Recently, hundreds of ZF employees in Koblenz participated in a protest, expressing their concerns about job security. The protest took place at the company's premises on Carl-Spaeter-Straße in the industrial area of Koblenz-Rheinhafen.
Ali Yener, the first authorized representative and CEO of IG Metall Koblenz, has been vocal about the job cuts at the Koblenz site. Yener has demanded contractual loyalty and a clear commitment from the ZF board in Friedrichshafen, specifically for the Koblenz site and each individual Koblenz ZF employee. The union, IG Metall Koblenz, represents many ZF employees at the Koblenz site and has previously demanded a clear commitment to the site.
Interestingly, there is a site agreement at the Koblenz ZF site that rules out dismissals due to operational reasons until the end of 2026. However, Yener is demanding a commitment beyond this date, given the broader restructuring strategy that ZF is implementing.
The job cuts at the Koblenz site are part of a larger plan by ZF to cut up to 14,000 jobs in Germany by the end of 2028. This represents approximately one in four ZF jobs in Germany being at risk.
As of August 2025, no recent announcements have explicitly clarified a final decision on the Koblenz site's future. The company has not yet responded to Yener's demands for a clear commitment to the site.
In conclusion, the Koblenz site remains under threat along with other ZF sites due to the company's aggressive restructuring strategy amid financial difficulties. Union actions underscore demands for site preservation and commitment, but the company prioritizes profitability targets and ongoing cost cuts in response to market pressures and investment challenges.
The Koblenz site, a crucial part of ZF's business in the development of brake electronics and driving assistance systems, is facing potential closure or sale due to the company's efforts to achieve profit margins of at least 19% in each factory as part of its restructuring strategy, influenced by the significant financial strain experienced in the first half of 2024. The union, IG Metall Koblenz, is engaging in protests and demanding a commitment beyond the agreed site agreement that rules out dismissals due to operational reasons until the end of 2026, emphasizing the importance of sustaining the Koblenz site within ZF's industry and finance.
