VW's profits are rising but it is worried about its core marque

The move - which would end a 28.8-hour working week in place since 1994 - is designed to improve efficiency.

But union leaders oppose the move, which VW sees as key to a comprehensive agreement on pay and conditions.

The car firm warned that longer hours might not be sufficient to safeguard future employment.

It previously said that 20,000 jobs were at risk unless productivity could be increased.

Opposing views

VW needs union approval to see the controversial changes through.

The two sides have agreed to hold further discussions about the issue before the summer holiday although talks about a future pay settlement are unlikely to start in earnest until later in the year.

There will not be any wage negotiations with Volkswagen Hartmut Meine, IG Metall

"We plan a return to the 35-hour week," Horst Neumann, VW's head of human resources, said following a meeting with representatives from IG Metall, Germany's largest union.

"The way to this would need to be worked through."

Union officials said workers were already stretched to the limit, putting in a large amount of unpaid overtime.

"There will not be any wage negotiations with Volkswagen," Hartmut Meine, IG Metall's head of negotiations, commented.

The introduction of a shorter working week in 1994 helped to save 30,000 jobs which were under threat at the time.

Redundancy moratorium

But facing fierce competition and with higher labour costs than many of its rivals, VW has warned that fundamental restructuring of its German manufacturing base is needed.

Its scope for action is limited, however, by a seven-year moratorium on compulsory redundancies lasting until the end of 2011.

During that time, VW can only reduce its workforce through early retirement or by voluntary redundancy.

Last month, VW offered severance packages to 85,000 German staff.