Nov 3, 2026 · 3,460 roles
Not linked to AISchaeffler plans to cut a net 3,460 positions in Europe, mostly in 2027 and 2028, about 2,660 of them in Germany (about 8% of its German core workforce), and to close five sites: its Dortmund and Morbach plants, which make parts for combustion engines, its Berlin and Schwalbach sites (most Schwalbach staff are to move to Frankfurt) and a small plant in Herstal, Belgium; about half the cuts fall in production, 30% in research and development and 20% in other functions.
The reason Schaeffler gave
"The company is thus responding to the persistently challenging environment in the automotive industry, which ... is characterized by weakened demand for internal combustion engine vehicles and a delayed ramp-up of electric mobility. Added to this are the above-average costs per employee in Germany and the high complexity of the organization, with too many management levels and overly limited delegation of leadership responsibilities."Schaeffler, in its press release of 3 November 2026
The release does not mention AI or automation; it names humanoid robotics and defence only as new growth areas where Schaeffler hopes to create jobs that offset part of the cut. On CNBC's Squawk Box Europe, chief executive Klaus Rosenfeld gave the reasons as a downturn in the automotive industry, overcapacity, too much research and development capacity, too high personnel costs and a too complex organisation, and said Schaeffler is "rearranging here certain capacities to free up also capacity for the new things that are coming"; CNBC titled the video "Job cuts to free up capacity for robotics expansion" and reported, as a separate point, that the company sees "ample opportunity to create efficiency" through robotics, automation and AI. No source read reported AI or automation as a reason these roles were cut.
Source: Schaeffler (press release): Schaeffler announces further performance improvement program. Checked Nov 3, 2026.