Audi lends staff to Bavarian defence firms

Audi will temporarily assign employees to defence companies in Bavaria under a voluntary scheme developed with partners in the state’s metal and electrical industries, BR reports.

Workers who take part can work for Diehl, Airbus, MBDA and KNDS for a limited period while remaining employees of Audi AG. The scheme is aimed in particular at engineers, quality engineers, project managers and workshop staff in technical development and quality assurance.

Audi said the initiative is intended to widen employment prospects for its staff, help meet regional demand for skilled workers and support the transformation of industry. The company plans to hold larger information sessions at the end of October and said the proposal had already attracted “very strong interest” among employees.

The scheme comes as Germany’s automotive industry faces a crisis while defence companies are struggling to keep up with orders.