cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/50682852
Germany: Merz pledges to resist 2035 EU electric car switch
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-merz-pledges-to-resist-2035-eu-electric-car-switch/a-74296747
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-merz-pledges-to-resist-2035-eu-electric-car-switch/a-74296747
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/50682852
11 Comments
DandomRude@lemmy.world · 51 pts · 343d
Until around 2003, Germany was the global market leader in photovoltaic systems. Today, the country plays virtually no role in this industry anymore.
That's what happens when you elect lobby-friendly conservatives to government for decades, who refuse to invest in the future and even actively seek to prevent innovation because it harms their powerful business friends.
That's what the CDU did back then, and that's what they are doing today. The only strange thing is that people still don't seem to understand that it is essentially the CDU whose disastrous policies have caused the German economy to fall so far behind in pretty much all key industries.
einkorn@feddit.org · 19 pts · 343d
All correct, but please don't forget that the SPD also had a hand in it. Especially in case of the solar industry, Sigmar Gabriel finished what Peter Altmaier started.
DandomRude@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 343d
Yes, absolutely right. Unfortunately, for exactly the same reason: lobbying and the resulting policy of continuing as before until it is no longer possible to continue because the world has moved on without us.
Unfortunately, the photovoltaic and automotive industries are only the most prominent examples of the short-sightedness of this policy.
einkorn@feddit.org · 22 pts · 343d
Merz pledges to stay in the 20th century as usual.
halfapage@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 343d
WanderingThoughts@europe.pub · 16 pts · 343d
Classic fuel German cars are pretty pricy these days while Chinese cars even with tariffs can be cheaper. That's not a good sign for the German industry.
FishFace@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 343d
EU tariffs will prop it up. And maybe even rightly so - Europe probably should not become dependent on American and Chinese cars.
MBech@feddit.dk · 14 pts · 343d
But why? Like, I get why he's doing it, it's because he's bought by the car and oil industries, and for some weird reason the VW Group really doesn't want to make electric cars, but what's the please-elect-me-again reason? Are they just really hoping enough people who hate electric cars are going to love them for this? 'Cause that votersegment is disappearing fast.
schizoidman@lemmy.zip · 9 pts · 343d
boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 6 pts · 343d
Sorry mr Kaellenius, but the fact that you now make 100k EUR giant screens on wheels with loose interior trim has nothing to do with them being electric.
Signed, someone who actually used to like the cars MB made.
Also the EQE never got a wagon version but the T-modell is super popular for the normal E-class. And the EQC was crossover only, no normal car version at all...
BMW meanwhile went from a beautiful generation of cars to something truly ugly the same time they started making EVs properly and Volkswagen/Audi UX has been shit for at least half a decade now, I HATE operating any of the cars they've made this decade.
Idk what I'm gonna buy when 2000s and 2010s German cars are no longer maintainable, but I don't think it'll be German.
AlmostDead@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 343d
We need MORE pollution. I just love fine particles myself. I go vroemvroem everyday hoping to give lung cancer to kids
Jramskov@feddit.dk · 9 pts · 343d
Well, that’s pretty stupid 🤦♂️ It’ll most certainly not save the German auto industry.