Wednesday, July 8th saw the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) announce the need for drastic measures to protect its national enterprise. According to VDA president Hildegard Müller
Reality has overtaken political goals and approaches, increasingly jeopardising jobs.
The economic crisis is affecting the entire European industry; the consequences are visible and tangible every day—and they are becoming increasingly dramatic.
One suggestion was to keep manufacturing sites open by selling them to foreign manufacturers. An earlier focus on competition from China, and notably Chinese electric vehicles, is giving way to a recognition that European consumers are moving away from buying European cars.
The comments follow last month’s VDA criticisms of expensive energy, high labor costs, and growing bureaucracy for their negative impact on the car industry.
