FRANKFURT, Germany — Volkswagen says auto industry headwinds mean it can’t rule out plant closings in its home country and must drop a pledge that would have barred layoffs through 2029.

BERLIN — The German Federal Cartel Office has approved plans by carmaker Volkswagen to buy a stake in U.S. electric car manufacturer Rivian, it said July 29.

Volkswagen will invest $5 billion to form a joint venture with electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive, throwing a lifeline to the startup and giving VW access to Rivian's technology.

Volkswagen AG’s namesake brand plans to bolster its offering of plug-in hybrid cars in response to a slowdown in demand for fully electric vehicles.

HANOVER, Germany — Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is to test its self-driving ID Buzz AD electric van for the first time under realistic conditions and with passengers on board.

Volkswagen AG lost another lawsuit in a German court over its software fix for engines in the wake of the diesel scandal that tarnished the reputation of Europe’s biggest carmaker.

Volkswagen AG signaled it’s willing to push for job cuts at its namesake brand to reduce expenses and improve profitability.

Canada agreed to subsidies that may top C$13 billion ($9.7 billion) over a decade to land an electric vehicle battery plant by Volkswagen AG, the company’s first gigafactory outside Europe.

Volkswagen AG missed its cash-flow target for the year after supply chain and logistics disruptions in recent months left the carmaker with unsold vehicles.

Volkswagen AG is overhauling its main factory in Germany to make two additional battery cars as Europe’s biggest automaker tries to get its electric shift back on track.