Michael Kretschmer, premier of the German state of Saxony, on Monday suggested longer working hours could be implemented at a Volkswagen plant in his state to prevent the facility falling victim to a major cost-cutting drive.
The plant in Zwickau is one of four Volkswagen sites at risk in Germany as Europe's largest carmaker seeks to expand cost-cutting measures, which could also mean an additional 50,000 job cuts.
Kretschmer did not shy away from admitting that Volkswagen operations in Germany were under pressure.
"We are too expensive," he said on public broadcaster ZDF on Monday morning, referring to the costs of producing domestically.
However, instead of cutting salaries, he proposed a "mix of measures," including, "to some extent, longer working hours."
Volkswagen chief executive Oliver Blume visited the Zwickau plant on Wednesday, as part of a series of crisis meetings held with employees across German sites over the planned cost-cutting drive.
Blume had told workers in Zwickau that no final decision has been made regarding plant closures, but reiterated that there were no viable capacity plans for the Zwickau, Hanover, Emden and Neckarsulm sites for the 2030s.
At a Monday meeting in Hanover, the final one of the series, Volkswagen Chief Fiancial Officer Arno Antlitz repeated that position to workers, according to a statement.
Volkswagen plans to cut production capacity by around 500,000 vehicles across Europe. According to Antlitz, failure to do so would result in a permanent cost disadvantage of around €1.5 billion a year.
He added that, despite improvements, production costs at the Hanover plant remain significantly higher than at other European plants.
Thorsten Gröger from the powerful IG Metall union called on management to provide a long-term perspective for the plant beyond 2030, saying that the union would not shy away from taking labour action.
Saxony Premier Kretschmer said he was optimistic regarding the future of the Zwickau plant, describing it as the most efficient Volkswagen plant in Germany.
He called on the German government and the European Union to work to support Volkswagen - "not financially, but by cutting red tape and costs, for example regarding energy."