Volkswagen is trying to implement a comprehensive cost-cutting programme with up to 100,000 job losses, double the amount previously planned, by 2030 and the potential contraction or closure of several plants.
its not that a certain minister of economy has called them out on their wrong course 5 years ago. But he was shut down as fearmongering and pushing a political agenda.
Folks were saying this when Tesla released model S, and did a reasonable job on the timeline. That’s 14 years ago. But those were tree hugging fanatics who don’t understand the importance of short term stock prices.
But this is capitalism. If German manufacturers can’t compete, they should shut down. Survival of the fittest and free-markets etc etc. there will be job losses but the German people should ask their leaders why that happened
Who could have seen this comming…corruption catching up… Who could have seen it coming that bribing politicians to allow them producing their product, that the people dont want anymore, wouldnt result in people wanting their product!!? Truely mind boggeling /s
China is not the threat since Germany can always impose tariffs. As the article points out, benefits to workers are too high. Germany must explore other industries besides car manufacturing. This is where it’s important for Germany to encourage immigrants with talent to study and work there. The AfD will exploit the warnings of job collapse to gain power. Hitler rose to power when the democratic Weimar Republic couldn’t control inflation.
Germany must explore other industries besides car manufacturing.
This! Our industry is far too dependent on the car market. Car ownership is going down and people don’t need to buy new cars all the time. The market is saturated. When I look around, everybody is driving a relatively new car that won’t have to be replaced for years. It’s just not a growth industry - and by the love of god, it shouldn’t be one.
Euro cars are known to be finicky and when something goes wrong it’s also always a write off unless it’s under warranty.
Have they tried making cars that don’t break after 3-5 years again?
I mean, most American models come broken from the factory…
That would break them. Building cars that last means less demand for the next new car. Planned obsolescence is the only way to make sure the next round of vehicles has a market, regardless of whether its a significant enough improvement to justify the cost.
Best I can do is put cameras all over it and track everything that happens inside and out of the car “for your safety”.
