VW: 3,000 jobs may stay in Brussels

BRUSSELS, Belgium

Volkswagen AG announced Friday that up to 3,000 workers would be able to produce the latest Audi model at their Belgian plant as of 2009, partly compensating for thousands of Belgian job cuts announced last week.

"Both sides agree that this plant has a future," said Volkswagen Chairman Martin Winterkorn.

He said over 100,000 of the A1 car could be produced at the plant, guaranteeing that 3,000 of the current labor force of 5,000 could stay. He stressed part of the surviving workforce might have to be employed as subcontractors.