Chinese delegation considering Audi site takeover is turned away

A delegation of Chinese officials from Beijing who wanted to visit the Audi Brussels site in Forest on Monday was turned away by management, according to the CNE trade union.

The union said that six Beijing officials were planning a visit to the site, which is due to close at the end of February, in order to assess its potential for manufacturing with a view to an acquisition.

“We are still interested in talking to seriously interested parties,” an Audi Brussels spokesperson told Belga, without saying more about the rejection of potential Chinese buyers for “confidentiality reasons”.

The most recent extraordinary works council noted that the last hypothetical candidate for the production site had withdrawn, according to Audi management.

A new task force on Audi Brussels is to be set up, led by the regions and focused on the reintegration of workers and the industrial future of the car plant, prime minister Alexander De Croo announced.

De Croo said that the new task force should be set up at the beginning of next year and the federal government will continue to monitor and evaluate the social plan for Audi Brussels workers, on which unions and management are currently negotiating.

At a recent meeting with the prime minister, unions reaffirmed that they wanted to conclude their negotiations on a social plan for the workers before Christmas.

Trade unionist Jan Baetens (ACV Metea) described the exchange with De Croo as “significant”.

“Above all, we asked the government to take action on the future of the site, and not to leave it solely to Audi,” said Baetens. “We’re hoping for a real debate on possible alternatives.”

Audi Brussels spokesman Peter D'hoore confirmed that “the transition to a possible new destination for the site” had been discussed.

“It has been agreed to meet again after the conclusion of the information and consultation process and a possible social plan,” D'hoore said.