AUMOVIO layoffs

AUMOVIO agreed to sell its washer and cleaning business in the Czech Republic to CERTINA Group. The transaction includes production, research and development, all business activities and approximately 700 employees, with closing expected by the end of 2026.

This was not announced as a layoff: all employees are expected to transfer with the business. It still creates a change of employer and integration uncertainty for the affected workforce, while showing that AUMOVIO is reallocating resources away from this unit toward technologies it considers core growth drivers.

AUMOVIO plans to reduce up to 4,000 research and development positions worldwide, largely by the end of 2026, affecting operations in India, Singapore, Romania, Serbia, Germany and Mexico. The company says standardization, automation, organizational alignment, portfolio focus and expanded development partnerships will reduce the need for positions while it continues investing in software-defined vehicles and autonomous mobility.

This is a high-risk signal for automotive R&D candidates, including in Romania. The company is still investing in selected technologies, but that does not make those teams automatically safe because the program also consolidates operations and relies more heavily on partnerships. Team, location and budget matter more than the broad technology label.