German Left Party Opposes Volkswagen’s Planned Defence Deal with Israeli Firm
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Germany’s Left Party has strongly opposed Volkswagen’s reported plan to convert its Osnabrück plant into a military production facility in cooperation with Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
Thomas Gross, the party’s mayoral candidate in Osnabrück, criticized Volkswagen’s management and said cooperation with an Israeli state-owned company conflicts with the city’s tradition as a “City of Peace.” He also argued that civilian production could be preserved at the plant instead.
Volkswagen, the state of Lower Saxony and Rafael are reportedly nearing an agreement. Under the proposed arrangement, parts of the facility could be transferred to Lower Saxony, which would then establish a joint venture with Rafael.
The plan comes as Volkswagen prepares to end car production at Osnabrück after 2027. The company has said discussions with defence contractors are focused on military transport vehicles rather than weapons.
Local reports say talks with Rafael include production of components supporting the Iron Dome missile defence system, such as heavy transport trucks, launch units and power generators.
The proposal previously faced opposition from Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Volkswagen’s third-largest shareholder, which vetoed an earlier version of the partnership. Volkswagen’s supervisory board is expected to discuss the revised plan on September 4, while Lower Saxony could invest at least €200 million in the project.
The Left Party has instead backed a proposal to manufacture minibuses at the plant, arguing that civilian transport and climate-related investment should take priority over military expansion.
