Automotive Industry Association President Disagrees with New Government Incentives for Electric Vehicles
The president of the German Automotive Industry Association, Hildegard Müller, has rejected new government incentives for electric vehicles, citing the need for a broader expansion of the corresponding infrastructure instead. In an interview with the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”, Müller emphasized the importance of building long-term trust in electric mobility, stating that it is crucial to tackle the problems of the current location and to strengthen consumer trust by expanding the infrastructure.
According to Müller, charging stations must be available everywhere and at a cost-effective price, making it more affordable for consumers to charge their vehicles than to fuel traditional cars. The association president also called for a comprehensive reform program to maintain the industry’s competitiveness, including the reduction of bureaucracy and energy prices, in order to attract battery and semiconductor manufacturers to the country.
Müller expressed skepticism regarding the planned EU ban on internal combustion engines by 2035, stating that the current energy and trade policies lack sufficient safeguards, particularly for raw materials. The association president believes that people do not buy electric vehicles because they are being banned, but because they are convinced of their benefits.