The logo of German carmaker Volkswagen is seen on a rim cap in a showroom of a Volkswagen car dealership in Brussels, Belgium July 9, 2020. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BERLIN, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Volkswagen’s works council (VOWG_p.DE) said on Wednesday it hoped for a final decision on exactly where the German company would build a new electric vehicle factory in the first quarter , adding that he wanted to close it. at its existing factory in Wolfsburg.

“We are fighting for the production of Trinity right here in Wolfsburg, that is to say either on the factory site or in the immediate vicinity of the main factory,” said the works council chairwoman. , Daniela Cavallo, in a press release.

Volkswagen announced last year that it planned to build a new, state-of-the-art car plant near its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, in hopes of upping its game in the run-up to the opening of the Tesla gigafactory (TSLA.O) near Berlin.

The plant is part of the group’s Trinity project under which the automaker wants to build a flagship electric sedan in Wolfsburg from 2026.

However, Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess angered union officials by saying VW’s main site – which currently produces no electric models – lags far behind Tesla in terms of efficiency and speed.

Cavallo said the new plant should be closely linked to the existing plant to maximize synergies. The works council added that it expected a decision on the precise location of the new plant in the first quarter.

The works council said Volkswagen produced 330,000 fewer vehicles than expected at the Wolfsburg plant last year due to a lack of semiconductors, with just under 400,000 vehicles rolling off the production line. production line.

Volkswagen announced in early February that night shifts in Wolfsburg would be discontinued on some production lines due to lack of chips.

“The coming months will be difficult, but we will continue to be the lead plant for the entire Volkswagen Group here in Wolfsburg. This is where we set the direction of the company,” Cavallo said.

Cavallo reiterated a demand for salary bonuses for employees despite the difficult income situation.

Reporting by Jan Schwartz and Victoria Waldersee, writing by Emma Thomasson Editing by Madeline Chambers

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.