Crisis meeting about the pressured automotive industry in Germany

The government in Germany has called an emergency meeting due to the increasingly pressured automotive industry in the country. Ahead of the meeting, however, the governing parties are divided on what to do.

» Updated: October 01 2024

» Published: September 21 2024

Crisis meeting about the pressured automotive industry in Germany
Photo: Markus Schreiber/AP/TT

The Minister of Economy, Robert Habeck (The Greens), has signaled before the meeting that the state can provide support. This is opposed by the liberal FDP, which is also part of Germany's federal coalition government.

FDP representative Christoph Meyer acknowledges that the authorities have contributed to "inefficiency and bureaucracy" that now primarily burden Volkswagen. However, he says according to German media:

The main part of the solutions must come from Volkswagen itself.

What politics can contribute with is not "subsidies for just one industry" but "structural reforms that the entire business community can benefit from", he says.

The basis for the division is different views on the electrification of the car industry. While the number of electric cars continues to rise sharply globally, sales are currently declining in Europe. The German giants are complaining about the authorities' demands for cleaner cars and are warning that factories may have to be closed.

The EU also sees it as large support programs in China and the USA favoring competitors such as Tesla and BYD, and will take new steps next week in a process to introduce punitive tariffs on electric cars manufactured in China.

At Monday's meeting, Robert Habeck will meet with representatives of the largest German car manufacturers, the industry organization VDA, and the trade union IG Metall.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

US Stocks Tumble as Trade
1 MIN READ

US Stocks Tumble as Trade Tensions with China Escalate

Trump Calls on Fed to
2 MIN READ

Trump Calls on Fed to Cut Rates, Criticizes Political Influence

US Job Growth Surpasses Expectations
1 MIN READ

US Job Growth Surpasses Expectations with 228,000 New Positions

Busch Urges Swedish Firms to
2 MIN READ

Busch Urges Swedish Firms to Stay Local Amid US Trade Uncertainty

Minister Warns of Global Trade
1 MIN READ

Minister Warns of Global Trade Impact as China Hits Back at US Tariffs

China Hits Back with 34%
2 MIN READ

China Hits Back with 34% Tariffs on US Goods, Files WTO Complaint

Ica Bank Cuts Mortgage Rate
1 MIN READ

Ica Bank Cuts Mortgage Rate to 3.68 Percent

Zuckerberg's Wealth Drops by 177
1 MIN READ

Zuckerberg's Wealth Drops by 177 Billion Kronor in Stock Market Slide

Sweden's New Trade Deal Boosts
1 MIN READ

Sweden's New Trade Deal Boosts Pay and Cuts Working Hours

Police Warn of Crime Surge
1 MIN READ

Police Warn of Crime Surge Risk Following Northvolt Bankruptcy

Cristina Stenbeck Returns as Kinnevik
1 MIN READ

Cristina Stenbeck Returns as Kinnevik Chairman After 7 Years

China's Tariffs Shake Stockholm Stock
2 MIN READ

China's Tariffs Shake Stockholm Stock Exchange, Expert Warns of Escalation

Stock Market Sees Largest Single-Day
1 MIN READ

Stock Market Sees Largest Single-Day Drop Since 2020 Pandemic

Sweden's Inflation Falls More Than
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Inflation Falls More Than Expected, Offering Economic Relief

Transport Unions and Employers Seal
1 MIN READ

Transport Unions and Employers Seal New Wage Agreement

European Stocks Tumble as China
2 MIN READ

European Stocks Tumble as China Hits Back with Tariffs on US Goods

EU Tariffs on US Goods
3 MIN READ

EU Tariffs on US Goods Could Raise Prices for Swedish Shoppers

Asian Markets Slide Following US
1 MIN READ

Asian Markets Slide Following US Tariff Announcement

IMF Warns US Tariffs Threaten
1 MIN READ

IMF Warns US Tariffs Threaten Global Economic Growth

Trump Signals Openness to Tariff
1 MIN READ

Trump Signals Openness to Tariff Negotiations for Economic Boost

EU Prepares Trade Countermeasures as
3 MIN READ

EU Prepares Trade Countermeasures as US Tariffs Loom

WTO Warns Trump's Tariffs Could
1 MIN READ

WTO Warns Trump's Tariffs Could Cut Global Trade by 1 Percent

Canada Imposes 25-Percent Tariffs on
1 MIN READ

Canada Imposes 25-Percent Tariffs on US Cars in Trade Dispute

Macron Urges EU Firms to
1 MIN READ

Macron Urges EU Firms to Rethink US Investments Over Tariffs

Volvo's Shift to Electric Cars
2 MIN READ

Volvo's Shift to Electric Cars Faces Scrutiny as Diesel Demand Persists

Stellantis Halts Canada and Mexico
1 MIN READ

Stellantis Halts Canada and Mexico Production Over US Tariffs

Fitch Downgrades China's Credit Rating
1 MIN READ

Fitch Downgrades China's Credit Rating Citing Economic Concerns

Wind Farm Cable Approval Granted
2 MIN READ

Wind Farm Cable Approval Granted but Vattenfall Faces Cost Hurdle

US Stock Market Tumbles as
3 MIN READ

US Stock Market Tumbles as Tariffs Hit Tech Giants

US Tariffs Pose Global Economic
2 MIN READ

US Tariffs Pose Global Economic Challenge, Says Swedish Central Bank Chief

Ikano Bank Faces Police Report
1 MIN READ

Ikano Bank Faces Police Report in Denmark Over Misleading Marketing

EU Trade Chief Sefcovic to
1 MIN READ

EU Trade Chief Sefcovic to Discuss US Tariffs on Friday

Volvo Cars Boosts US Production
3 MIN READ

Volvo Cars Boosts US Production in Response to Trump's Tariffs

US Imposes Tariffs on Remote
1 MIN READ

US Imposes Tariffs on Remote Penguin Islands in Australian Territory

Saab Secures Major Order for
1 MIN READ

Saab Secures Major Order for Combat Vehicle Systems from BAE Systems

Trump Tariffs Threaten to Hike
1 MIN READ

Trump Tariffs Threaten to Hike Coffee Prices in the US

Trump's New Tariffs Spark Global
2 MIN READ

Trump's New Tariffs Spark Global Criticism and Economic Concerns

Kent Concerts Spark Hotel Market
1 MIN READ

Kent Concerts Spark Hotel Market Boost in Stockholm

US Boosts Norwegian Salmon Imports
1 MIN READ

US Boosts Norwegian Salmon Imports Before Tariff Decision

Sweden's IT Sector Sees Reduced
1 MIN READ

Sweden's IT Sector Sees Reduced Work Hours and Pay Raise