Volkswagen Implements Microsoft Copilot for 330,000 Employees

Volkswagen Group has equipped over 330,000 employees with Microsoft Copilot – artificial intelligence integrated into Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams applications – while the company plans to freeze wages at the 2026 level until 2030.

According to the company, Volkswagen employs about 660,000 people, with 275,000 in Germany. The subscription is estimated to cost $30 per user per month (list price; large clients usually negotiate lower), leading to estimated expenses of $118.8 million annually. This amount is only a small part of the company's goal to save 6 billion euros by 2030.

Volkswagen's global works council reported a suspension of wage increases starting in October, which could lead to a loss of about 10% of employees' income due to inflation. The IG Metall union states that wage increases should be discussed in negotiations rather than appointed by management; the union demands a 5% increase over 12 months.

The changes come amid the company's plans to cut about 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030, linked to a drop in profits to a historic low. Frozen wages and the implementation of Microsoft Copilot raise questions about resource allocation and the benefits of automation in the face of rising inflation.

Sophie Vassaratti, head of data and artificial intelligence at Volkswagen Group, noted: “The real value of AI lies in making it accessible in everyday work.”