Berlin, August 6, 2026

IAV GmbH, the General Works Council, and IG Metall have agreed on a comprehensive solution for the company’s future. The new forward-looking collective bargaining agreement and eight general works council agreements have been finalized. This resolves the key issues surrounding employment, locations, working hours, compensation, and training in a single package.

The agreement encompasses far more than just organizational adjustments: IAV is strengthening the integration of AI expertise across all areas of the company, introducing a consistently performance- and customer-oriented work culture, and aiming to reduce its workforce in Germany from more than 5,000 today to 2,970 by the end of 2027. This will be achieved through an engagement and voluntary departure program. All of IAV’s German regional offices will remain in place. In doing so, IAV is laying the foundation needed to align the company with the challenging environment of the automotive industry’s greatest transformation: planning certainty for our customers, our employees, and the company.

Given the current state of the industry, reaching a comprehensive agreement of this magnitude between the company, the General Works Council, and IG Metall is by no means a given. Jörg Astalosch, CEO of IAV, commented:
“This solution did not come easily to anyone. It demanded a great deal from all parties involved. We were able to win them over with a robust strategic plan, and throughout tough but constructive negotiations, we never lost sight of our common goal or the interests of our customers. For this, I would like to thank our social partners, our shareholders, and above all, our employees. With the solution we have now agreed upon, we are systematically adapting IAV to the changed conditions in our home market: We are securing around 3,000 highly qualified jobs while simultaneously creating the structure that will ensure our long-term survival. The question is not whether engineering works in Germany. The question is how to set it up. Our answer: a focused team that works together on-site and is internationally networked. And what counts here is speed, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.”

The restructuring is driven by the profound structural changes in the automotive industry and the ongoing pressure on prices and efficiency in the engineering market. IAV is confident that engineering in Germany can remain competitive if the right framework is in place.
This framework consists of four elements: a focused, high-performing team; a consistent performance culture with mandatory goal-setting and development reviews for all employees; a return to on-site collaboration – in the office and at the customer’s site, where projects are decided and contracts are won; and close networking with international locations, which continue to grow as part of a global team. Added to this are initiatives such as a new business bonus, which makes bringing in new business everyone’s responsibility.

IAV is laying the technological foundation for this through the increased use of artificial intelligence across the entire company on two levels: A company-wide training initiative is building AI expertise among all employees, and at the same time, AI is being further integrated into the development and business processes themselves – from AI-supported automation and validation to data-driven project management. The shareholders support this course and continue to rely on IAV as a development partner.

At the same time, the locations are being provided with a binding framework: By the end of March 2027, separate location agreements on capacity utilization and skills development will be concluded for each region. Gifhorn will be further strengthened as a development center; Stollberg in Saxony will remain an integral part of the network of locations; and Berlin will be established as a center for core competencies with a new IT hub. The locations in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria will also be retained. They ensure close proximity to our customers.

The engagement and volunteer program will launch this fall and was negotiated by Jens Pfitzinger, IAV’s CHRO, and his team in collaboration with employee representatives.
“We’ve agreed on both: fair solutions for those who leave, and opportunities and clear guidelines for everyone who stays. Those who decide to make a career change will receive support –financially, as well as through counseling and training. Those who stay will work in an even more competitive company that promotes personal development and recognizes performance: with mandatory goal-setting and development reviews for everyone and a training initiative that empowers all employees to work even more effectively with artificial intelligence.”

With the signing of these agreements, IAV is moving from the negotiation phase to the implementation phase. The restructuring is expected to be completed and the new work and service structures established within one year. “This agreement is not the end; it’s our starting point,” says Astalosch. “The real work begins now.”

Press Contact
Nais Graswald
Phone: +49(0) 1757427099
Email: nais@graswald-schaetzle.com

On behalf of
Nikolas Thorke
Communications & Marketing
Phone: +49 (0)152 225 268 15
Email: presse@iav.de