Rafael-VW plant deal not derailed, German magazine reports

Reports of a Qatari veto on a deal to convert Volkswagen's Osnabrück plant into a Rafael facility for Iron Dome components are inaccurate, according to German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche. Negotiations are ongoing for the plant, which would produce trucks and parts for the air-defense system. While the Qatar Investment Fund, holding a 17% stake in Volkswagen, has expressed opposition, it is not clear if this constitutes an absolute veto. The head of the Osnabrück plant's works council called for a "smart solution" and suggested the German state of Lower Saxony acquire a majority stake in the plant to facilitate the deal. A security expert noted, "We live in times when difficult agreements have to be made with complicated players." This initiative aligns with Volkswagen's strategy to repurpose surplus capacity and Europe's increased defense spending, potentially preserving 2,300 jobs.