After recent comments from the auto industry in the Chancellor’s office, Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume is tightening the pressure on the government. In an interview with “Bild am Sonntag”, he demanded that the federal administration stop making only announcements and call for faster decision‑making and clear implementation plans.
Blume said that it will now be crucial to act decisively, to attach a concrete rollout schedule to each issue. While he acknowledged that the new government is tackling the “right topics” he criticized the absence of a binding roadmap-what actions will be taken, who will execute them, and by when the objectives will be met.
He drew a direct parallel between leading a global industrial group and running a state, insisting that progress requires high transparency in measuring outcomes. Volkswagen’s industry is ready to support this process, but Blume argues that the country must urgently accelerate its pace.
On competition, Blume urged the board to look beyond Germany’s borders, especially toward the Far East. He cited China as a model, noting that the Chinese employ five‑year plans with clear priorities that are optimally structured. The German industry, he added, could learn from China’s high discipline and performance mindset. To keep Germany’s manufacturing base viable, we need to study how other nations have driven their development forward.
