The biggest auto show of all time opens its doors in Beijing on Friday. German manufacturers are adapting ever more to local conditions in order not to be left behind. Weak sales figures speak for themselves.
By Julia Fiedler
German carmakers are relying more and more on local development in China. Volkswagen, too, is increasingly betting on partnerships – and on reinventing a classic that recalls its golden years.
By Julia Fiedler
Western carmakers in China are becoming targets of pity and cynicism. Their era of joint ventures is increasingly seen as over. But not every Chinese industry observer shares that view.
By Manuel Liu
German industry's struggle for survival calls for a change in thinking. As the automotive sector becomes less and less profitable, suppliers are turning their attention to aerospace and robotics. The Germans still have an edge. But the race against time is on.
By Christian Domke Seidel
As Chinese trade flows put pressure on Europe’s industrial base, calls for more effective countermeasures are growing louder. One option under discussion is the broader use of import quotas, as already applied in the steel sector.
By Antonia Zimmermann and János Allenbach-Ammann
Right on schedule for the start of the EU-India summit, the European Commission and the Indian government have agreed on a free trade agreement. Beijing is on alert: economic losses, European resilience and India’s move up the value chain are all fueling China’s concerns.
By Marcel Grzanna
The European Commission is planning stricter rules for public contracts and funding programs to reduce dependence on China. Minimum quotas for EU-made products and higher hurdles for foreign suppliers in key industries are on the table.
By Markus Grabitz, Till Hoppe, János Allenbach-Ammann, Manuel Berkel and Amelie Richter
Germany’s crisis-hit auto industry sees India as a major growth opportunity. But to unlock it, tariffs must fall. Traveling with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, companies are hoping for a breakthrough in free-trade negotiations.
By Julia Fiedler
According to Tesla, a supplier’s country of origin is not an exclusion criterion. In practice, however, the US electric carmaker is pushing ahead with far greater independence from China. Is Tesla also providing a blueprint for German companies?
By Christian Domke Seidel
