In 2026, 7 automotive & transportation companies have cut a combined 106,935 jobs, averaging 7.6% of workforce per company.
The automotive sector faces a difficult transition in 2026. Volkswagen's 50,000-job plan through 2030 is the largest single announcement of the year, driven by Chinese competition and a slower-than-expected EV transition. UPS and FedEx are restructuring logistics networks around automation.
| Company | People Cut | % of Workforce | Date | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Group | 50,000 | 7.4% | WEAK DEMAND | |
| UPS | 30,000 | 6.0% | AI-DRIVEN | |
| Spirit Airlines | 14,000 | 100.0% | WEAK DEMAND | |
| Porsche | 2,400 | 5.7% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| WiseTech Global | 2,000 | 28.6% | AI-DRIVEN | |
| Ultium Cells | 1,334 | 78.5% | WEAK DEMAND | |
| General Motors | 1,140 | 0.7% | WEAK DEMAND | |
| Iberia | 996 | 10.0% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| SK Battery America | 958 | 37.3% | WEAK DEMAND | |
| Nissan | 900 | 9.7% | WEAK DEMAND | |
| FedEx | 856 | 0.2% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| Alan Ritchey | 729 | 24.3% | COST CUT | |
| General Motors | 600 | 0.4% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| Lucid Group | 319 | 4.7% | COST CUT | |
| GXO Logistics | 220 | 0.1% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| Cars.com | 185 | 10.9% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| Transdev | 126 | 0.4% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| Harley-Davidson | 100 | 1.8% | RESTRUCTURE | |
| Mercedes-Benz R and D North America | 72 | 2.4% | COST CUT |