Ahead of the start of the International Motor Show (IAA), CSU leader Markus Söder announced massive support for the German auto industry. In a 10-point plan titled "Yes to the Car, Yes to Germany as a Car Country," the Bavarian Minister-President calls for the EU-wide ban on cars with combustion engines starting in 2035 to be overturned, as reported by "Bild am Sonntag."
Söder told "Bild am Sonntag": "The combustion engine has a future with e-fuels and new technologies." The EU's 2035 ban on combustion engines endangers hundreds of thousands of jobs. He added that the car is "the heart of our economy – without it, we face a risk of collapse."
According to Söder, Germany is experiencing a dangerous mix of the consequences of US tariffs, bureaucratic restrictions imposed by the EU, overregulation, and technological bias. The auto industry is being weakened while other countries are catching up or are already pulling ahead. "That's why Germany now needs a clear automotive strategy – without ideology, but with reason, a future orientation, and technical realism," said the CSU leader.
Söder also mentions reducing CO2 savings targets, expanding the charging infrastructure, strengthening the supplier industry, developing autonomous driving, and reducing the cost of driving licenses.
To help Germany's ailing auto industry emerge from the economic downturn, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a future dialogue on Wednesday. He emphasized that not only major corporations, but also the supplier industry, several federal states, and trade unions would be invited.
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