By Axel Schmidt, Christoph Steitz and Christina Amann WOLFSBURG, Germany (Reuters) -Volkswagen plans to shut at least three factories in Germany, lay off tens of thousands of staff and shrink its remaining plants in Europe's biggest economy as it plots a deeper-than-expected overhaul,

The head of Volkswagen's works council says the company has informed employee representatives that it wants to close at least three plants in Germany.

Volkswagen, Europe’s largest car manufacturer, is planning to permanently shrink the size of its German operations.