Factory prepares to pivot from cars to air defense | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Volkswagen’s deal with an Israeli investment firm and Germany’s state of Lower Saxony is set to transform its Osnabrück plant from auto production into a defense manufacturing hub, potentially preserving more than 1,200 jobs. City and regional officials say employees who expected layoffs or closure next year now face a different mission: building air defense systems and components for European militaries as Europe increases spending to counter Russia and reduce reliance on the United States. The shift won’t fully offset auto-sector job losses, with Volkswagen planning about 100,000 cuts by 2030, and transitioning to complex weapons work may require security clearances and new regulatory approvals.