Guest commentary: Automobile production in Germany is not a natural law
VDA President Hildegard Müller calls for more willingness to change from unions and employees ahead of the IG Metall action day - and warns of high labor costs.
The German industry is under pressure due to various factors such as geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, and shifting trade flows. The automotive industry, in particular, is facing significant challenges with the transition to electric mobility and digitalization, which is expected to lead to job losses due to reduced components and value creation.
Companies, policymakers, and unions must share responsibility for addressing the consequences of this transformation. Germany's high labor costs, bureaucracy, taxes, and energy costs make it an unattractive location for investments, leading to 44% of auto industry companies reducing employment in Germany while increasing it abroad.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
