Volkswagen CEO says ‘smarter solutions’ possible beyond closing plants

(Bloomberg) — Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume said there are “smarter solutions” to save money than shuttering factories and hailed progress already made in cutting costs in remarks that could help defuse tensions with the manufacturer’s powerful union. Labor officials have accused Blume of stoking fear in the workforce and demanded he explain himself directly to staff after details of a sweeping restructuring plan, including as many as 100,000 job cuts and plant closures in Germany, were published in the media. In an interview in the Sunday edition of Bild newspaper, Blume appeared to rule out shutting factories,…