Thyssenkrupp’s CEO, Miguel López, has indicated an openness to potential state participation in its planned listing of the naval shipbuilding division, TKMS. In an interview, López stated he wouldn’t rule out such a move for the future, although it isn’t currently planned. He affirmed Thyssenkrupp AG’s intention to maintain a long-term majority ownership of the newly structured TKMS.
López acknowledged a recent improvement in economic sentiment, attributing it to the current federal government’s policies. However, he cautioned that this positive shift hasn’t yet translated into tangible economic gains, noting a persistent weakness across various industrial sectors. He anticipates a noticeable impact from the infrastructure special fund beginning in 2026, coupled with increasing demand for defense equipment, potentially driving economic growth in 2027 and 2028.
He issued a stark warning regarding the long-term viability of German industry, highlighting energy costs as a critical factor. López asserted that significant reductions in electricity prices are essential for maintaining a competitive manufacturing base, ideally reaching three cents per kilowatt-hour. He suggested that current energy pricing makes it unsustainable for many energy-intensive companies to remain in Germany.
López critiqued the direction of Germany’s energy policy, questioning the feasibility of an energy transition reliant solely on wind and solar power. He argued that only Scandinavia and the Iberian Peninsula are capable of producing competitively priced renewable energy in Europe, advocating for large-scale imports to achieve cost-competitiveness.
To safeguard against “unfair competition” López called for the implementation of import duties on steel. Referencing announced steel tariffs in the United States, he expressed concern over a shift of production capacity from outside Europe-particularly from Asia and Brazil-towards the European market. He proposed mirroring the U.S. approach by adopting equivalent import duties at the EU level to create a balanced trading environment.