Autoland’s reckoning: Are German cars a thing of the Past? | To The Point

Germany’s most important industry is celebrating itself - and its crown jewel: the car. But behind the scenes, the German auto sector is in deep trouble. Just like the broader economy, it’s undergoing a painful transformation. At the International Auto Show in Munich, we’re seeing new models, fresh innovations, and sobering numbers. Global demand for German cars is stalling. Economic uncertainty is shaking consumer confidence. China is dominating the electric vehicle market. And Donald Trump is pushing for higher tariffs on EU car imports. The result? Shrinking profits, shaken confidence, and thousands of jobs on the line. On To the Point we ask: Autoland’s reckoning: Are German cars a thing of the Past?

Our guests:
Chris Reiter, Bloomberg News
Clifford Coonan, DW Business
Vendeline von Bredow, The Economist

Chapters:
00:00 Can Germany catch up on car prices?
02:40 Why is Germany’s auto industry lagging?
05:00 Video: International Auto Show Munich
06:50 Germany is a slow adopter of new technologies.
08:00 Are there insufficient state subsidies for Germany’s auto industry?
11:00 Will there really be a ban on combustion engines by 2035?
13:30 What does the auto crisis mean for small suppliers?
15:15 “There will and must be a transition in the auto industry”
16:25 Video: What are the main challenges for Germany’s car industry?
19:00 China is now the innovation center for the worldwide car industry.
21:20 Why Germany needs to be more aggressive.
22:40 China doesn’t need Germany for innovation anymore.
23:40 What are the effects of US tariffs on the car industry?
24:50 Are German cars a thing of the past?

#ToThePoint #CarIndustry #GermaynEconomy
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Post from DW News on September 11, 2025

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