German truck maker MAN to axe 1800 jobs

German truck maker MAN, a subsidiary of European car giant Volkswagen, said Wednesday it plans to axe as many as 1,800 jobs by 2017 in a new cost-cutting drive.

MAN said in a  statement that it would "realign" the production facilities of its MAN Truck & Bus division in Munich and Salzgitter in Germany, Steyr in Austria and Krakow in Poland.

"MAN is thus strengthening the individual production sites in their respective roles and is also avoiding duplication of work," it said.

"At the same time, MAN is streamlining its indirect areas. This will involve approximately 1,400 management positions and 400 in direct production areas."

MAN insisted there would be no compulsory redundancies or site closures.

"The streamlining will primarily be carried out through voluntary redundancies, semi-retirement and not re-filling positions should they become vacant," it explained.

"For this purpose, one-time expenses in the lower three-digit million range will be required in 2015," it added.

MAN Truck & Bus's human resources chief Jochen Schumm said: "As in the past, we will present attractive alternatives to the employees in the areas concerned. There will be no compulsory redundancies."