Volkswagen strikes deal with Israel investment firm to turn car plant into defense facility

[u/Wooden-Evidence4792]

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/07/business/volkswagen-car-plant-defense-production-intl

[u/Wooden-Evidence4792]

I find it hilarious considering who started Volkswagen

[u/etherealtwo → u/Wooden-Evidence4792]

I know right? I always find it amusing when Americans drink British tea considering who started it.

[u/TraditionalApricot60 → u/Wooden-Evidence4792]

You have a point there.

Greetings from Germany.

[u/Common-Method2202]

I would assume this is much cheaper for Volkswagen to do than completely exit the building and close it down

[u/gym_fun → u/Common-Method2202]

It's not just the cost. They have unique battle-tested defense tech that auto, defense companies and countries are looking for. Countries will also be lining up to make deals with Ukraine.

[u/ACompletelyLostCause → u/Common-Method2202]

There's a big downturn in German car manufacturing, it's one of the reason some of the factories are being retooled for German re-armament.

[u/Jealous_Response_492 → u/ACompletelyLostCause]

It's a wise thing to do, rather than simply mothball manufacturing and lay off skilled labourers.

[u/TheRealOsamaru]

The irony of this is palpable.

[u/pnd83]

Read the room Volkswagen

[u/A_Whole_Costco_Pizza → u/pnd83]

The room says "We want Israeli defense tech."

[u/hamnam7975 → u/pnd83]

Indeed, building defensive capabilities is critical to European defense, so would be great to build more manufacturing capability of it in Europe

[u/binici6676 → u/pnd83]

TIL only ruzzia and us have the right to build and sell weapons.