Setúbal, Portugal
Latest news and stories from Palmela.
Utility provider E-REDES has announced scheduled power outages for 6 September in parts of Palmela, Mafra, and Vila Nova de Milfontes. The interruptions are necessary for maintenance work, though the company clarified that outages will likely affect specific streets rather than entire parishes.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume has announced that the company is considering deeper restructuring measures, which could include closing four factories and cutting up to 100,000 jobs worldwide. Blume cited significant industry pressures, including the transition to electric mobility and geopolitical risks. While there is currently no indication that the Autoeuropa plant in Palmela will be affected, the announcement has triggered protests.
A woman died in Palmela after waiting over an hour for an emergency medical vehicle. The union representing pre-hospital emergency technicians reported that such delays have become more frequent in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and the Algarve in recent weeks.
The Minister of Internal Administration (Ministro da Administração Interna) has preventively suspended four National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) officers for 90 days. The officers face charges from the Public Prosecutor (Ministério Público) for the alleged kidnapping and assault of three minors in Palmela. The suspension follows a recommendation from the Inspectorate General of Internal Administration (Inspeção-Geral da Administração Interna or IGAI).
IGAI stands for the Inspectorate‑General of Internal Administration (Inspeção‑Geral da Administração Interna), an independent oversight body that inspects police forces, civil protection and local administration for legality and performance. For expats dealing with police staffing or conduct issues, IGAI is the body unions and officials may ask to review problems and recommend changes.
The GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is Portugal's national gendarmerie—a military police force founded in 1911, with origins dating to 1801. With over 22,600 personnel, GNR patrols 94-96% of Portuguese territory, covering rural areas, medium towns, and highways. Members are military personnel subject to military law, responsible for public order, customs, coastal control, environmental protection (SEPNA), firefighting/rescue (GIPS), border control, and ceremonial guards. GNR vs. PSP: The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's civilian police force, covering major cities (Lisbon, Porto, Faro) and large urban areas—only 4% of territory but roughly half the population. PSP handles airport security, diplomatic protection, and private security regulation. Both share core missions (public order, crime prevention), but differ in nature: GNR is military with military training; PSP is civilian with police-focused training.
The VW Group is in a wave of cuts to return to high profits and does not seem to have a long-term strategy. In one fell swoop, it sold Osnabrück, divested Bugatti, and Ducati is next.
There is a factory in Germany that produces the VW T-Roc, the same model manufactured in Portugal, which is set to be closed. What factory is this and to what extent could the decision spread to 'our' Autoeuropa?
The Secretary-General of the PS has set four red lines for the approval of the State Budget.
Luís Montenegro will have to guarantee that there will be no constitutional changes without an agreement between the PS and the PSD.
Following 100,000 layoffs and the closure of four factories, the VW Group is moving towards shutting down brands, with Seat being the first victim. And what will be the future of the Portuguese Autoeuropa plant?
An analysis of Portugal's evolving role within the European industrial landscape.
The Volkswagen supervisory board unanimously approved a restructuring plan this Thursday that includes the elimination of approximately 50,000 jobs worldwide by the end of the decade.
Volkswagen has approved a major restructuring plan that includes the elimination of more than 50,000 positions.
A quiet optimism prevails at the Palmela factory, where work is already underway on the future 100% electric Volkswagen ID.1. In Germany, discussions are ongoing regarding the potential layoff of 100,000 employees across the entire group.
At a time when it is implementing a deep restructuring plan, which includes layoffs and production cuts, Volkswagen may end the Seat brand as early as 2029. This decision, which has not yet been officially confirmed, aims to strengthen the 'competitiveness and efficiency' of the German manufacturer. According to Expánsion, which cites a report...
The Volkswagen administration has been in successive meetings with unions to negotiate a restructuring. On Expresso da Manhã, Paulo Baldaia speaks with Vítor Andrade, an Expresso journalist and expert in the automotive industry.
Man named as a formal suspect in Pinhal Novo, Palmela. Victim reported aggressive behaviour and threats by her partner.
Speaking to RTP, Rogério Nogueira stated that the factory's Workers' Commission has “no indication of staff restructuring at Autoeuropa.” “We are confident in the future of the factory,” he stressed.
The Volkswagen group, which is set to cut around 100,000 jobs worldwide, intends to maintain its current plan to build the brand's electric model at Autoeuropa in Palmela, despite the global restructuring process. The multinational is visiting several European factories to defend the necessity of the cuts for the...
Employees at the Autoeuropa plant are concerned about the current situation, although there are no indications that job cuts will be implemented in Portugal.
Sixteen 9mm weapons and nearly 400 rounds of ammunition seized.
In a statement, the local official described the move as a 'personal, considered and definitive' decision. The lack of a quorum will be discussed at an extraordinary assembly. Without a consensus, by-elections will be necessary.
The local official stated that the decision results from “deep and irreconcilable political and institutional incompatibilities with the former municipal and district party structures.”
The 55-year-old suspect recorded the content without the victim's consent.
The Palmela factory is undergoing assembly and paint line remodelling to prepare for the arrival of the ID.Every1. Workers are on 100% paid lay-off.
The Autoeuropa factory is undergoing renovations on the assembly line and in the paint shop and will only resume production on August 24, an official company source revealed to Lusa today.
The Autoeuropa factory is undergoing a refurbishment of its assembly line and paint shop and will only resume production on August 24, an official company source revealed to Lusa this Wednesday. “There was a holiday shutdown from June 1 to 11, followed by another...
The remodelling aims to prepare the industrial unit for the production of the new electric model ID.Every1, which is only expected to begin at the end of next year, 2027.
Renovation aims to prepare the Volkswagen group's industrial unit for the production of the new electric model
The Ramada group closed the first half of the year with a consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders of 2.9 million euros, an increase of 31.6% compared to the same period last year, according to a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM). Total revenues for the Ramada Investimentos e Indústria group amounted to 5.7 million euros through June.
The German firm Brose Sitech, chosen by Autoeuropa to produce the seats for the new hybrid T-Roc model, will occupy a total of 24,000 square metres at Quinta da Marquesa, where it has been based since 2024, thereby doubling the size of its Palmela factory. Patron Capital and Inbrigt Portugal announced this Wednesday...
An independent councillor elected by Chega confirmed her departure and admitted to having submitted a resignation request in June. She withdrew the request to approve pending projects, claiming she no longer identifies with the parish executive.
Portugal achieves a historic result in the Orienteering World Championships, supported by the key involvement of the Palmela Desporto organisation.
Loxam Portugal recorded sales exceeding 13 million euros in the first half of 2026 and an EBITDA of 6.5 million, representing a 27% increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2025. The company, which specialises in the rental of machinery, tools, and industrial equipment for the construction, public works, industry, and events sectors, projects that if the current pace continues, it will close 2026 at approximately 27.4 million euros, 23% more than in 2025. One of the growth drivers was the opening of a new 25,000-square-metre branch in Palmela, which joins Loxam's national network, now totalling eight branches. 'This new headquarters allows us to significantly strengthen our proximity to our customers, increase our response capacity, and expand our service offering,' said Hugo Filipe, area director in Portugal, as quoted in a statement. The company states it continues to invest in fleet modernisation and increasing the share of low-emission machinery, noting that 100% of new machines acquired in the last year are classified as ECO. Currently, Loxam in Portugal has an operational fleet of about 30,000 units, eight branches, and employs over 100 people. With a presence in 28 countries, the French multinational has 11,500 employees and 1,150 branches globally.
