Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) asserts that the German automotive industry faces significant challenges due to international competition. Speaking to RTL and ntv during a cabinet meeting in Neuhardenberg, Bilger stated that the homework required from all involved parties-including companies, employer representatives, labor unions, and politicians-is vast. He emphasized that the automotive sector is Germany’s leading industry and that the country must assert itself in developing the future of mobility within Germany.
Looking at the ongoing debate about potential job cuts at Volkswagen, Bilger noted that the car manufacturer must undoubtedly be able to produce vehicles more affordably. However, he also mentioned the company’s already extensive foreign production and its efforts to increase efficiency. Despite the intense competition, he also pointed out that greater opportunities exist in the global market; increased worldwide car sales offer chances that should be seized.
Bilger specifically mentioned the structural shift driven by electromobility. He acknowledged that, for example, an electric vehicle requires fewer working hours than a combustion engine vehicle. Nonetheless, he affirmed that electromobility is definitively the future, meaning Germany must also be strong in this particular sector.
