"Bold decisions" are needed, stated VDA, the car trade representative body.
Volkswagen operates with over 650,000 global employees across brands like Audi, Bentley, Skoda, Seat, and Cupra.
The manufacturer faces intense market competition from Chinese automakers alongside an ongoing difficult transition toward electric vehicle manufacturing.
Currently, only 19 of the 20 seats on the supervisory board are occupied by representatives.
This leaves shareholder representatives with one fewer seat than the labor and workers' side, which holds 10 seats.
Under the historic Volkswagen Act, closing protected German plants requires a strict two-thirds supervisory board majority.
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While the Zwickau and Neckarsulm plants lack this specific protection, union leaders have threatened massive resistance and costly strikes.
