{
  "id": 12624225,
  "title": "Verkehr: Reform für mehr Investitionen in Autobahnen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/verkehr-reform-fur-mehr-investitionen-in-autobahnen",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T11:47:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/verkehr-reform-fuer-mehr-investitionen-in-autobahnen/100260458.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The federal-owned motorway company is set for a landmark financial reform aimed at enabling more investment in repairs and the construction and expansion of highways. From 2027, the Autobahn GmbH will be allowed to take out loans, while from 2028, it will be able to independently access a share of the revenues from the truck toll. The German federal government approved a corresponding bill by the Ministry of Transport in Berlin. \"The Autobahn GmbH can build, rehabilitate and invest more quickly, in the long term and ultimately more economically with creditworthiness,\" said Michael Güntner, chairman of the management board of the Autobahn GmbH. \"Paradigm shift\" Previously, the financing of the Autobahn GmbH came from the federal budget. However, this made the company dependent on the state of its coffers, with risks of funds being lacking, especially for maintenance and new construction. Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) called the planned reform a \"paradigm shift\" in motorway financing. \"This creates planning security and enables additional investments,\" he said. The Bund will retain ownership, and third-party involvement in the Autobahn GmbH will be excluded, either directly or indirectly. The new financing architecture will allow the Autobahn GmbH to become creditworthy \"limited\" from 2027. This will enable the company to take out loans in the coming years to ensure long-term investments and implement additional projects earlier. The reform will also create more opportunities for the so-called public-private partnerships. Güntner described the planned creditworthiness as a major step for the Autobahn GmbH, giving the company a stable financing architecture. \"But bridges, tunnels and roads are built and maintained over years and do not fit the rhythm of a single budget year. The future financing from budget funds, toll revenues and the option to take out loans will create real planning security for large infrastructure projects.\" The Greens criticized the planned reform, which is now under debate in the Bundestag. \"The creditworthiness of the Autobahn GmbH is only about establishing a new debt ceiling, because the company is incapable of handling money,\" said Green budgeteer Paula Piechotta. Julia Balz, transport expert at the environmental association Nabu, criticized: \"More money for highways, less parliamentary control, and at the same time cuts to rail: This prioritization is completely wrong politically speaking.\"",
  "summary": "Die Autobahn GmbH gilt als unterfinanziert. Das soll sich vom nächsten Jahr an ändern. Das Kabinett bringt einen Gesetzentwurf auf den Weg.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}