Lear to shut down production in Gründau, cutting 180 jobs
US automotive supplier Lear Corporation plans to cease production at its facility in Gründau, Germany, relocating manufacturing to Slovakia, Serbia and Tunisia. Around 180 jobs will be lost, with the phase-out expected to begin immediately and complete by mid-2027. Approximately 120 engineering positions will remain at the site, according to IG Metall.
The Gründau facility produces seats, steering wheels, and surface heating systems, as well as sensors and electronics for the automotive industry. Lear acquired the site from family-owned company IG Bauerhin (IGB) roughly three years ago, at which time the workforce was told conditions would remain unchanged, according to the works council. At its peak, the site employed more than 700 people – a figure that had already fallen to around 300 before the announcement.
The works council and IG Metall have announced their intention to fight the decision. Works council chairman Markus Rotter called the announcement "a slap in the face of the workforce." IG Metall's Hanau-Fulda regional director Matthias Ebenau pointed to a collective agreement reached just last year.
The announcement comes as Lear reports improving financial results. The company posted Q2 2026 revenue of USD 6.2 billion, up 3% YoY, with core operating earnings rising 7% to USD 313 million.
