Volkswagen's first-quarter profit plummets 14% amid tariff headwinds and Chinese competition. Europe's largest automaker reported operating profit of 2.5 billion euros, missing analyst expectations by nearly 40 percent. Sales revenue reached 75.66 billion euros, down 2.5% year-over-year. The German giant faces mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and intensifying competition from Chinese car manufacturers. CEO Oliver Blume acknowledged the challenging environment while highlighting progress made despite significant headwinds. The company is implementing sweeping job cuts affecting around 50,000 positions in Germany by decade's end and pursuing a major product offensive. CFO Arno Antlitz warned that planned cost reductions are insufficient, signaling further restructuring ahead. Volkswagen stock declined 2% on the news and has fallen over 18% year-to-date.
