Volkswagen's Big Shift: 50,000 Jobs Cut

Key vocabulary

• aprobarv.

  to approve, to pass (a plan)

  “El consejo ha aprobado el plan.”— The board has approved the plan.

  Pattern aprobar un plan (approve a plan)

  Compare aceptar (accept)

  Past participle aprobado

  💡 The root prob- is related to 'prove', similar to English approve.

• recortem.

  cut, reduction

  “El recorte de personal afecta a muchos trabajadores.”— The staff cut affects many workers.

  Pattern recorte de empleos (job cuts)

  Compare reducción (reduction)

  Plural recortes

  💡 From the verb recortar, re- intensive + cortar to cut.

• empleom.

  job, employment

  “Busco un empleo estable.”— I'm looking for a stable job.

  Pattern puesto de empleo (job position)

  Compare trabajo (work)

  Plural empleos

  💡 Same root as the verb emplear (to employ).

• fábricaf.

  factory

  “La fábrica produce motores.”— The factory produces engines.

  Pattern fábrica de coches (car factory)

  Compare planta (factory)

  Plural fábricas

  💡 Same root as fabricar (to manufacture).

• demandaf.

  demand

  “La demanda de coches eléctricos aumenta.”— The demand for electric cars is increasing.

  Pattern la demanda del mercado (market demand)

  Compare necesidad (need)

  Plural demandas

  💡 Same root as demandar (to demand), English demand.

• competitivoadj.

  competitive

  “La empresa necesita ser más competitiva.”— The company needs to be more competitive.

  Pattern precio competitivo (competitive price)

  Compare rival (competing)

  Feminine competitiva; plural competitivos

  💡 From competir (to compete), -ivo adjective suffix.

• plantaf.

  plant, factory

  “La planta de Sevilla cerrará el año que viene.”— The Seville plant will close next year.

  Pattern planta de producción (production plant)

  Compare fábrica (factory)

  Plural plantas

  💡 planta also means 'plant', pay attention to context.

• marcaf.

  brand

  “Cupra es una marca de coches.”— Cupra is a car brand.

  Pattern marca comercial (commercial brand)

  Compare etiqueta (label)

  Plural marcas

  💡 Same root as marcar (to mark).

• reestructuraciónf.

  restructuring

  “La reestructuración afectará a todos los departamentos.”— The restructuring will affect all departments.

  Pattern reestructuración de la empresa (company restructuring)

  Compare reorganización (reorganization)

  Plural reestructuraciones

  💡 re- again + estructura structure + -ción noun suffix.

• costem.

  cost, expense

  “La empresa quiere reducir costes.”— The company wants to reduce costs.

  Pattern reducir costes (reduce costs)

  Compare gasto (expense)

  Plural costes

  💡 Spain commonly uses coste, Latin America mostly uses costo.

Grammar spotlight

Sentence patterns to steal

• Este plan incluye un recorte de 50.000 empleos en todo el grupo.

  This plan includes a cut of 50,000 jobs across the entire group.

  Este plan incluye + noun phraseThe noun phrase can be replaced with other content, such as 'un aumento de sueldo' (a salary increase).

• La empresa dice que la producción en Europa es mayor que la demanda.

  The company says that production in Europe is greater than demand.

  ser mayor que + noun'mayor' can be replaced with 'menor' (smaller) or 'igual' (equal).

• Por eso, necesita una estructura más competitiva.

  Therefore, it needs a more competitive structure.

  necesitar + noun + más + adjectiveThe adjective can be replaced, e.g., 'eficiente' (efficient).

• Además, Volkswagen quiere dejar de fabricar los coches de la marca Seat.

  Furthermore, Volkswagen wants to stop manufacturing cars of the Seat brand.

  querer dejar de + infinitiveThe infinitive can be replaced, e.g., 'fumar' (to smoke).

• Este cambio forma parte de la reestructuración para reducir costes.

  This change is part of the restructuring to reduce costs.

  formar parte de + nounThe noun can be replaced, e.g., 'un proyecto' (a project).