[ad_1]
The German auto industry is not doing well, and not just since the crown crisis. The industry is undergoing profound changes. In addition to the new electric drive, digitization is also turning the car upside down. In the future, it could not only be powered by electricity, but could also be controlled by computer.
When auto industry representatives meet with federal government and state representatives at the auto summit at the Foreign Ministry this Tuesday, these topics should really be the main focus: autonomous driving and digitization. But under pressure from the unions and the federal states, the focus is once again on the economic situation of companies. A study by the Institute of Economics (IW) states in ruthless terms: The auto industry is facing a “demand shock”, there is the threat of radical job cuts and its role as a “growth engine is failing.”
Suppliers are particularly affected
For this reason, Federal Minister of Economy Peter Altmaier (CDU) wants to present at the summit how the two billion euros that are destined for industry in the Corona economic stimulus package will be spent. According to information from SPIEGEL, this package should include various modules, including research and development funds, but also assistance for the creation of new electric car production facilities.
Money should not only be available to manufacturers, but above all to suppliers. The economic recession and transformation hit them especially hard. “If production does not get used to capacity soon, very drastic cost-cutting measures must also be taken at the expense of the labor force in the supplier industry,” Christian Vietmeyer, general manager of the Steelworkers Association, warned on Monday. and Metallurgy (WSM).
The financial aid has not yet been distributed. They are in addition to the grant packages that Altmaier has offered to various consortia of European manufacturers for the development and production of battery cells. However, it is questionable whether all this aid will be enough to satisfy the federal states, especially those of southern Germany. The Prime Minister of Bavaria, Markus Söder (CSU), has already asked for state support worth ten billion euros more. IG Metall also expects more financial support from the state.
However, there should not only be discussions on the financial question. In addition to money, the auto industry is also demanding clear rules from the federal government on how autonomous or semi-autonomous cars can be allowed in the future. In fact, a corresponding law has already been formulated for this. But according to information from SPIEGEL, it is blocked by the Federal Ministry of Transport. There are concerns about European legislation, according to Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU).
The problem here is that homologation is regulated at the European level. Approval in one country is valid in all other countries. Therefore, technical provisions, such as those on autonomous driving, should have been theoretically accepted by all Member States.
But that has not happened so far. From an industry point of view, it would be conceivable to initially only get the approvals for Germany. Digital assistance systems could go offline at the border. Technical and legal issues like these should be discussed at the meeting at the Chancellery.
Daimler doesn’t want a purchase voucher
Time is of the essence for automakers. Daimler, for example, wants to offer its new S-Class sedans as soon as possible with highly automated driving functions such as “Automated Parking Service”, which allows self-parking in and out of parking lots. The premium manufacturer wants to be among the first to use the new autonomous driving law from 2021, Daimler boss Ola Källenius told reporters last week. With the emerging new law, if it really comes, Germany is “ahead”.
On the other hand, Källenius considers that another discussion on the purchase premium “is not politically sensible”. The federal government has already established a substantial economic stimulus package, “which will also have an effect.”
