Volkswagen , under pressure by high costs and Chinese competition, brushed off union proposals for cost savings on Friday, just days ahead of planned walkouts meant to avoid unprecedented plant closures.

An agreement not to hold strikes ended on November 30. "Accordingly, strikes are possible and also necessary from the beginning of December," the union said. "Volkswagen will determine at the negotiating table how long and how hard the conflict will be - the VW workforce throughout the country is ready to strike," it added.

IG Metall said its members would down tools for a few hours a day after the auto giant and union leaders failed to agree on how to cut costs amid a slow electric-vehicle market and fierce competition.

Volkswagen, under pressure from high costs and Chinese competition, rejected union proposals for cost savings on Friday, just days ahead of planned walkouts meant to avoid unprecedented plant closures.

Volkswagen has rejected a proposal from labor representatives that they said could avert layoffs and factory closures. VW said it wouldn't have delivered the advertised savings. Strikes loom in the brewing labor dispute.