It almost sounded like a sales pitch. On Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel stood at the IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt at the Porsche booth and was explained by company boss Oliver Blume the advantages of his electric model Taycan. Production and orders amounted to 30.000 pieces at present, explained Blume of the CDU politician.
"So one year wait," concluded Merkel.
"We do it exclusively," Flower replied.
Merkel: "Ok, I did not intend to buy one."
It was a joke, no question. Nevertheless, it fit the remainder of Merkel's appearance at the International Motor Show. The Chancellor sought, where she could, the close cooperation with the industry, offered, where she could, a close cooperation.
It was a "Herculean task" to make the transport sector more climate-friendly, she said at the official opening of the fair. At the end of her 90-minute tour with a tour of several electric cars, autonomously moving shuttle buses and some climate protests drew Merkel, the E-Chancellor, a satisfied Zwischenfazit.
"I was able to convince ourselves that we are not facing upheaval," she said. "But that this change is already a reality."
However, Merkel denied criticism of the still not fully explained Dieselschummelei German auto companies. The Chancellor did not embrace reservations against the successful but heavy city SUVs. She prefers to ask car owners about battery ranges and about the different stages of autonomous driving.
"We can do it, as Germany to be in front," said Merkel. And promised the industry far-reaching help:
- By 2022, the new mobile communications standard 5G is to be available along all highways, and two years later along the federal highways. The technology is important for digital functions in cars.
- The chancellor also wants to push ahead with the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric cars. 20,000 charging points are far from sufficient, she found to the delight of the manufacturer.
Meanwhile, climate campaigners accused the auto industry of not resolutely pursuing the shift to emission-free electromobility. At the Volkswagen booth, two Greenpeace activists climbed onto cars and held up posters with the inscription "Klimakiller".
While Merkel visited the BMW booth, an approaching protester was also intercepted by the security service and taken away. Big demonstrations have been announced in Frankfurt for the weekend.