Which Webasto sites are affected?

The Bavarian sites named were Stockdorf (the head office near Munich), Gilching, Hengersberg and Utting, as well as Neubrandenburg in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (where around 800 people work). The focus is on administration and development, as well as adjustments to production capacity.

Why is Webasto cutting jobs?

The company cites the difficult market environment in the automotive industry as the reason. CEO Jörg Buchheim said when announcing the cuts (Webasto statement, 2 April 2025): "This was a difficult decision, but given the market developments, it was also unavoidable for Webasto." Like many suppliers, Webasto is under pressure from the shift to electric mobility and falling demand.

Webasto transfer company or severance pay: which is better?

Webasto is offering affected employees the option to move into a transfer company (Transfergesellschaft), which provides support with job placement for up to twelve months. Whether a transfer company or a severance payment works out better for you depends on your age, qualifications, job market prospects and the amount of severance on offer. We work through both options for your specific situation.

Webasto termination agreement (Aufhebungsvertrag): should I sign?

Not without having it checked first. A termination agreement can trigger a benefit suspension period (Sperrzeit) for unemployment benefit (§ 159 SGB III); this is distinct from the suspension of entitlement under § 158 SGB III where the notice period has not been observed. On tax: since 1 January 2025, the one-fifth rule (Fünftelregelung) is no longer applied by the employer at the payroll tax stage but is only taken into account later in your income tax return (assessment). We check the amount, release from duties, remaining leave and reference before you sign anything.

What does this cost you?

The initial consultation comes at no upfront cost. If you engage us, we work with litigation funding, so there is no upfront cost risk for you. If successful, we keep a transparently agreed share of the severance payment. Legal representation is handled by our partner law firm, MK Law.

Severance Pay (Abfindung) at Webasto: Job Cuts 2025/2026

Webasto announced in April 2025 that it would cut around 650 jobs in Germany by the end of 2025 (sources: Nordkurier; S&P Global, April 2025). In October 2025, following an agreement with the works council, around 300 further positions were added, mainly in administration and management at the Stockdorf and Gilching sites (source: Springer Professional, October 2025). As at: September 2026.

Reviewed by specialized labor lawyers · Updated: September 2026

Automotive supplier Webasto (headquartered in Stockdorf near Munich) announced in April 2025 that it would cut around 650 jobs in Germany by the end of 2025 (sources: Nordkurier; S&P Global / autotechinsight, April 2025).

In October 2025, management and the works council (Betriebsrat) agreed on around 300 further job cuts, focused mainly on administration and management positions, primarily at the Stockdorf and Gilching sites (source: Springer Professional, October 2025).

Administration and development are mainly affected. Sites named: Stockdorf, Gilching, Hengersberg, Utting (Bavaria) and Neubrandenburg (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).

A central part of the package: the offer to move into a transfer company (Transfergesellschaft), which supports job placement for up to twelve months. A social compensation plan (Sozialplan) was negotiated with the works council.

The job cuts amount to an operational change (Betriebsänderung), reconciliation of interests and social plan under §§ 111, 112 BetrVG are the key lever for your severance pay (Abfindung).

For a redundancy dismissal, the 3-week deadline under § 4 KSchG applies. We review your case on a success basis, with no upfront cost risk.

Job cuts at Webasto: the current situation

Automotive supplier Webasto, headquartered in Stockdorf near Munich, is feeling the impact of the upheaval in the car industry. In April 2025, the company announced it would cut around 650 jobs in Germany by the end of 2025 (Nordkurier; S&P Global).

In October 2025, management and the works council (Betriebsrat) agreed on around 300 further job cuts, focused mainly on administration and management positions at the Stockdorf and Gilching sites (Springer Professional). As at: September 2026.

Team Abfindung is an independent provider and has no business relationship with Webasto (Webasto SE). We act exclusively in the interests of affected employees.

The figures at a glance

Around 650 jobs in Germany by the end of 2025 (announced April 2025).
Around 300 additional jobs (agreement reached October 2025), mainly in administration and management.
Sites: Stockdorf, Gilching, Hengersberg, Utting (Bavaria) and Neubrandenburg (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).
Offer of a transfer company with up to twelve months of support; a social compensation plan has been negotiated.

Transfer company, social plan and your rights

These job cuts amount to an operational change (Betriebsänderung) within the meaning of §§ 111, 112 BetrVG. On this basis, the works council negotiates a reconciliation of interests (Interessenausgleich) (covering whether, when and how the changes happen) and a social compensation plan (Sozialplan) (compensating for the economic disadvantages, above all through severance payments). Under § 112 para. 4 BetrVG, a social plan can be enforced directly via the arbitration board (Einigungsstelle), so it comes into effect even if the two sides fail to reach agreement themselves.

This is distinct from compensation for disadvantages (Nachteilsausgleich) under § 113 BetrVG: this applies if the employer carries out the operational change without having attempted to reach a reconciliation of interests with the works council, or departs from an agreed reconciliation of interests without compelling reason. It is therefore linked to the reconciliation of interests, not the social plan.

Webasto is offering affected employees the option to move into a transfer company. Whether the transfer company or a severance payment works out better for you depends on your specific situation, we work through both options for you. Outside of a social plan or an individual agreement, there is no general statutory right to a severance payment of a particular amount; the standard formula (0.5 gross monthly salaries per year of employment) is a reference figure, not an entitlement.

Checking your offer

Before you accept a termination agreement, severance offer or transfer company offer, we typically check:

Is the severance payment correctly calculated (gross salary, years of employment, bonus components)?
Are release from duties, remaining leave, any outstanding bonus entitlement and your reference clearly regulated?
How does accepting the offer affect your unemployment benefit: a benefit suspension period (Sperrzeit) under § 159 SGB III for a termination agreement, or a suspension of entitlement under § 158 SGB III if the notice period was not observed?
What does the one-fifth rule (Fünftelregelung) mean for you? Since 1 January 2025, it is no longer applied by your employer at the payroll tax stage, but is only taken into account later in your income tax return (assessment).
Is the transfer company the better option for you than accepting an immediate severance payment?

If you are dismissed

If Webasto issues a redundancy dismissal, the 3-week deadline under § 4 KSchG applies: an unfair dismissal claim (Kündigungsschutzklage) must reach the labour court within three weeks of receiving the dismissal notice. At a larger company with a works council, the prospects of success are usually good, and proceedings frequently end with a severance payment agreed as part of a settlement.

How we work at Team Abfindung

Initial consultation at no upfront cost: we review your offer or your dismissal notice.
Engagement: litigation funding with no advance payment from you.
Negotiation handled through our partner law firm, MK Law.
Court claim if needed at the relevant labour court (for example, Munich).
Settlement or judgment, usually a severance payment agreed at the conciliation hearing (Gütetermin).

Frequently asked questions