The prime ministers of the "car countries", Kretschmann, Weil and Söder, advise on a strategy for car manufacturers.
- The auto industry is also suffering from the corona crisis *.
- The heads of government of the car countries are now discussing possible state aid * .
- Some suggestions from the automotive industry in the economic crisis * go very far.
Update of May 5, 2:05 p.m .: In the debate about incentives to buy new cars, the Greens in the Bundestag oppose Prime Minister Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) . "I disagree," said faction leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt in Berlin when asked whether she understood the position of the head of government in the southwest.
Kretschmann, together with his counterparts Stephan Weil (Lower Saxony / SPD) and Markus Söder (Bavaria / CSU) , demanded, among other things, 3000 euros for modern gasoline and diesel cars with pollutant class 6d-Temp.
Greens group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt
© dpa / Michael Kappeler
Corona crisis: State aid for VW, Daimler and Co.?
17:24: The carmakers are not only hoping for political help - they are also putting pressure on them in the midst of the Corona crisis . Before the Prime Ministers of Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg discussed the possible car purchase premiums in the Corona crisis, Volkswagen has called for extensive funding. They will campaign for "that politicians provide money for this impulse," said the boss of the works council, Bernd Osterloh, in a letter to the employees on Wednesday. In an interview, the VDA also requests massive financial aid in the form of a purchase bonus.
The heads of government of the three car countries - Stephan Weil (SPD), Markus Söder (CSU) and Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) - originally wanted to get together in the afternoon. Due to an appointment collision, they postponed their conversation again, it should be rescheduled at a time not yet mentioned.
Corona crisis: State aid for VW, Daimler and Co.? Advice to country heads
Original article from April 29, 2020:
Wolfsburg / Stuttgart / Munich - Should the powerful car industry , which is currently being slowed down by the corona virus *, receive state aid? The heads of government of the three car countries Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg - Stephan Weil (SPD), Markus Söder (CSU) and Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) - want to join forces on Wednesday to answer the question.
Coronavirus meets VW, Damiler and Co .: Osterloh with far-reaching demands
In advance, Volkswagen (VW) spoke out for far-reaching funding. They will campaign for "that politicians provide money for this impulse," said VW works council chief Bernd Osterloh in a letter to the employees.
"We know that we are using it to call for tax revenue," says the letter that dpa has. "But we also know that this money could be invested wisely for our entire society and could therefore pay off multiple times - namely economically, ecologically and socially."
Corona crisis hits carmaker: VW wants "impulse bonus"
According to the ideas of the VW works council, a funding model should include, among other things, an “impulse premium” for new car purchases including leasing, which also applies to modern combustion engines and runs over “a clearly limited period”. It should be as high as the “scrappage bonus” in the 2009 financial crisis and should also apply to young used cars up to the age of one year.
VW demands "additional scrappage bonus" in corona crisis
Osterloh also wants an “additional scrappage bonus on top”, which is available for scrapped old cars with the Euro 3 and Euro 4 emissions standards. In the opinion of VW, the German manufacturers should agree that, depending on the amount promised, the state funds "may even double, or at least assume the switching costs". In addition, CO2 emissions should be given greater consideration as a basis for assessing vehicle tax.
Premium model for car manufacturers in the corona crisis?
At the restart of the VW main plant in Wolfsburg *, Weil had announced that he would consider a conceivable bonus model : "We are aware that we need a quick decision."
VW CEO Herbert Diess called for "early, powerful measures". Söder told the Süddeutsche Zeitung : "I am in favor of a very comprehensive strategy on how we can help the automotive industry."
The car manufacturers had to shut down their plants over several weeks due to the corona-related drop in demand and interrupted supply chains - drastic sales declines are the result. Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) advocates new aid for the auto industry if funding is concentrated on climate-friendly vehicles.
dpa / frs
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.