Volkswagen has threatened to close plants in Germany for the first time in its 87-year history to reduce costs and boost profit.

Volkswagen car and component plants across Germany started two-hour strikes on Monday, bringing assembly lines to a halt as labour and management clash over the future of Europe's biggest carmaker.

Tens of thousands of Volkswagen workers are taking part in strikes at plants across Germany Monday, marking the largest walkouts at the carmaker’s domestic operations since 2018.