Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, a leading industry analyst, sharply criticized Germany as a motor‑vehicle manufacturing hub. “The biggest problem for domestic conglomerates is Germany” he told the Bavarian media group. “Our country is too expensive and uncompetitive. We have been losing competitive strength for too long”.
He accused the political establishment of doing very little to strengthen Germany’s industrial base, except for Sunday speeches. “We have allowed an overly generous welfare state that the industry ultimately has to pay for” Dudenhöffer said. “One must also consider the bad cost structures, high payroll costs, and outrageously high energy prices”.
However, he does not see German automakers on a downward trajectory. Instead, he describes the past year as an “extremely bad exception year”. The car manufacturers will manage, but “outside the country”.