With verve and charisma (no doubt accentuated by a blindfold), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the opening of the Munich Motor Show (IAA) on Tuesday, urging German automakers not to “be intimidated by the rise of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.” vehicles,” a contest he called “stimulating,” stressing that Germany must confidently respond to this challenge.

“Competition should stimulate us, not scare us”Olaf Scholz told an audience of automotive industry leaders and car enthusiasts from around the world.

Chinese versus German manufacturers

He cited the multitude of Chinese electric car manufacturers that stormed the Munich Motor Show, temporarily overshadowing some of the big-name (especially German) automakers. These Chinese manufacturers, who already dominate the local market, now have European ambitions and aim to compete with German giants such as Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW.

Olaf Scholz admitted that Chinese manufacturers offer attractive offers at competitive prices, but he is convinced “fair competition will drive innovation and ultimately benefit European consumers”.

To illustrate his point, the chancellor recalled similar moments in the history of the automobile industry. In the 80s, there were similar worries about Japanese and Korean cars. After 40 years, these models have become an integral part of the global automotive market. Today, it is Chinese electric cars that attract attention. Despite these uncertain times, Germany has always maintained its competitiveness in the automotive sector.

Joint Chancellor

Olaf Scholz also emphasized Germany’s international competitiveness in the automotive sector. He stated: “I don’t know of any other company in the world that has as much automotive know-how, such a density of suppliers and world-leading SMEs, and as much applied automotive research in such a small space as Germany. . »

During his visit to the exhibition, Olaf Scholz preferred the stands of German manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Bosch, Continental and ZF, demonstrating his support for the domestic automotive industry. He also found time to get into a car from American manufacturer Tesla and visit Samsung, as well as Chinese battery manufacturer CATL, which recently opened its first European factory in Germany.

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