As we've become used to seeing happen at Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, Volkswagen employees also received a bonus after the German brand saw its sales and profits grow last year.
In total, Volkswagen saw sales grow 2.6% worldwide in 2019, and that is why management decided that part of the profits obtained should be distributed among employees.
The result was a bonus of up to 4950 euros which, according to Bernd Osterloh, chairman of the works council, will have already been partially paid to employees in November, with the rest paid in May.
According to Herbert Diess, CEO of the Wolfsburg brand, Volkswagen employees received a bonus because they "demonstrated, once again, a great team performance in 2019", with the executive adding: "They contributed decisively to the success Volkswagen”.
Bonus on the way in 2020?
If this year Volkswagen employees received a bonus, next year it is likely that the same will not happen.
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The reason for this is simple and is the same that was behind the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show or the postponement of the New York Motor Show: the coronavirus.
As if the uncertainty caused in the car market by the new emission regulations was not enough, in 2020 brands are struggling with the drop in sales caused by the coronavirus, already observed in China (car sales fell 80% in February), and which has already we started to see in Europe.
Regarding this matter, Gunnar Kilian, member of Volkswagen's human resources department said: “For 2020, expectations have to be more limited (…) because of the coronavirus and the economy Volkswagen will face a very challenging year”.