Audi has announced the permanent closure of its factory in Brussels, Belgium, after unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer. This decision will result in 3,000 employees losing their jobs.
The Brussels facility, which produced Audi’s first electric vehicle, the Q8 e-tron, had already experienced rounds of layoffs.
Despite efforts to secure a buyer who could keep operations running, the final potential investor recently withdrew, ending any hope of preserving jobs at the site.
Ronny Liedts from the ACV-Metea trade union shared the disappointing news with VRT, saying, “In the end, nothing happened. The potential buyer announced last week that they are no longer interested in the Audi Brussels factory.”
With production ending, Audi will shift its electric vehicle production to its facility in Mexico, leaving only one car factory in Belgium—Volvo’s plant outside Ghent.
The factory’s closure has stirred unrest among workers, including recent protests where employees took the keys to 200 new cars stored on-site.
The looming job losses have left Audi’s workforce uncertain about continuing work during the factory’s final days. “We cannot guarantee we’ll continue to work. Subcontractors are already on strike, so people can’t work here either,” Liedts explained.
Audi faces challenges beyond Brussels.
Rumors suggest the brand may be reconsidering its Formula 1 involvement, which was set to start in 2026.
Meanwhile, Audi’s sister brand, Volkswagen, is also under economic strain, with its financial director warning that they have only two to three years to turn things around in Wolfsburg.
More factory closures in Germany could be on the horizon as Volkswagen evaluates its options.
