A German minister’s words of caution for the automotive industry have sparked a heated debate in the country. Karl-Josef Laumann, the Minister for Labour, Health, and Social Affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia, has called on major car manufacturers to fundamentally revamp their offerings, citing the industry’s financial struggles as a self-inflicted wound.
Laumann, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the party’s federal board, believes that the German auto industry has been too slow to adapt, focusing primarily on high-priced vehicles for too long. “If I were still a welder, I might not be able to afford a new German model” he said in an interview with Ippen-Media.
The minister emphasized the need for the industry to shift its focus towards electric vehicles, but also stressed the importance of making these products practical and attractive to consumers. “The path to the electric car must be taken” he said, “but the manufacturers must work on this. Currently, the products are not yet that appealing, and that’s why not everyone wants to buy an E-car. Of course, politics cannot take the blame for all the mistakes of the automotive industry.