The auto industry is in crisis because of Corona. Volkswagen has to stop production immediately after the restart. All news in the ticker.
- The auto industry is also suffering from the corona crisis *.
- The heads of government of the car countries want to advise on possible state aid * .
- Some suggestions from the automotive industry in the economic crisis * go very far.
VW has to shut down work again - sales slump through Corona
Update from May 12, 7.49 p.m .: The slump in sales in the auto industry due to the Corona crisis is forcing Volkswagen to shut down work in places after the recent restart . At the main plant in Wolfsburg, the production of the small SUV Tiguan as well as the Touran and the Seat Tarraco will soon be completely stopped over four days . This applies on Friday (May 15th) as well as on May 20th, 25th and 29th, it said on Tuesday from corporate circles. The new Golf 8 is also affected, but here only individual shifts will be omitted on the days mentioned. In addition, the possibility of short-time work is to be extended to the period from May 18 to 31.
Some of the approximately 80,000 employees for whom reduced working hours had been registered in Germany have not yet returned. At the end of April, Volkswagen had started in Zwickau, then also at its headquarters in Wolfsburg and at several other locations, with a careful restart in production. However, customers across the industry continue to be cautious. For a long time, besides production, the car dealerships were tight - now the stores are full, while many consumers shy away from larger expenses. There were also significant supply chain problems.
Corona crisis: buying premiums for cars? Decision postponed
Update from May 12, 4:05 p.m .: The car industry is looking for a purchase bonus in the Corona crisis - and is therefore being rejected in the economic wing of the Union's parliamentary group . "We demand cross-sector bureaucratization and support and accept specific solutions only for companies that continue to be affected by government regulations," said the dpa , Christian von Stetten (CDU), chairman of the influential parliamentary group for small and medium- sized companies . "We reject an additional billion-dollar scrappage or purchase premium for the automotive industry." The Augsburger Allgemeine first reported on the position .
Stetten said the federal government should not wait until the beginning of June - but should already report this to the automotive industry. Delaying the decision would only lead to further reluctance to buy on the part of customers who "are now waiting to see whether they can take a bonus of EUR 4,000 with them". After a “car summit” last week, the federal government had made it clear that a decision should be made on possible purchase incentives by this date (see initial notification below) .
Debate over car purchase premiums in the Corona crisis: Kretschmann gets headwind from its own party
Update from May 5, 2:50 p.m .: The auto industry summit with Angela Merkel (CSU) brought no decision . Instead, the participants in the conference call want to exchange ideas about "measures to stimulate the economy" in a working group. In addition to Merkel, the finance ministers Olaf Scholz (SPD) , economics minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) , transport minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) , environment minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) and chancellor minister Helge Braun (CDU) had spoken to representatives of the automotive industry. The results will be discussed in early June.
One thing seems to be clear: the measures should apply to the "modernization contribution towards innovative vehicle technologies ". Further state aid is still highly controversial. An ARD commentator meanwhile holds a blazing appeal for the Chancellor and pleads for a massive rethink in society after Corona.
Corona crisis: buying incentives are highly controversial within the party
Update of May 5, 2:05 p.m .: In the debate about incentives to buy new cars, the Greens in the Bundestag oppose Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg . "I have a different opinion," said parliamentary 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.?
10:24 am: The carmakers are not just 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 made up at a time not yet mentioned.
Meanwhile, it became known that BMW expects losses in the Corona crisis and wants to cut jobs. Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) insists on higher taxes for the rich because of the Corona crisis.
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 of 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) has spoken out in favor of far-reaching funding. They would 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," it says in 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."
Employees at the VW plant in Wolfsburg
© dpa / Swen gatekeeper
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 bonus” 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 financial crisis in 2009 and should also cover 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 end-of-life vehicles that comply with the Euro 3 and Euro 4 emissions standards. In the opinion of VW, the German manufacturers should agree that the government funds "depending on the amount promised, may even double, or at least assume the switching costs". In addition, CO2 emissions should be taken into account more 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 close their factories over several weeks due to the corona-related slump in demand and interrupted supply chains * - drastic falls in sales are the result. Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) advocates new aid for the auto industry if the funding focuses on climate-friendly vehicles.
dpa / frs
Limits of infection numbers, easing and demos: The corona crisis determines the discourse in Germany. Angela Merkel consults with the Corona cabinet on May 11 - and makes a statement.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Ole Spata
