Citing German newspaper Bild, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) has reported that Volkswagen's intentions to collaborate with Israeli defence company Rafael Advanced Defence Systems have been blocked by its Qatari investors.
According to the report, Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, which is the third-largest shareholder in Volkswagen, dismissed a proposal to utilize the automaker's Osnabrück plant for the production of missile components and military vehicles.
This development comes after Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume announced in March that vehicle production at the Osnabrück plant would cease in 2027. Blume also mentioned that the company was in negotiations with various defence firms about repurposing the facility for military vehicle production, though he did not specify the firms involved.
