Dozens of Volkswagen Beetles - also known as bugs - have converged on the Kathmandu area for the sixth rally run by An-Bug - the Association of Nepal Beetle Users Group. photos here

VW denies report of more job cuts.

A senior Volkswagen executive has denied a report that the firm may cut an extra 10,000 jobs, but admitted the situation at the company was “serious”.

VW personnel chief Horst Neumann insisted he had never suggested any plans to extend February’s warning of a possible 20,000 cuts over three years.

“There is no reason to panic, and certainly no reason to create panic,” he told the Reuters news agency.

VW has warned that 20,000 job cuts may be needed to boost productivity.

BBC article here

VW’s Mexico staff may cut demands.

The union representing striking workers at Volkswagen’s (VW’s) Mexico factory has said it is prepared to reduce its wage demands to help end the dispute.
As workers prepared to down tools for a fourth day on Tuesday, the union said it was ready to lower its 8.5% pay rise demand, but gave no exact details.

Managers at the Puebla factory, which makes all VW’s Beetle cars, have so far only offered a 4% increase.

In 2004, workers at the plant won a 4.5% pay rise after a four-day strike.

Another walkout at the Puebla facility in 2001 lasted 18 days before the two sides reached agreement.

BBC article here

The Englishman who saved Hitler’s Beetle.

Ferdinand Porsche is credited with creating the VW Beetle - with a little prompting from Adolf Hitler. But it was Ivan Hirst, a British soldier, who started the production line running. Without him the world would not be about to see the 21,529,464th and final Beetle leave the paint shop.

BBC article here