Despite current difficulties, the Automotive Cluster East Germany does not see any turning away from electromobility. It was clear from the start that this transformation would be a rocky road, association managing director Jens Katzek told the German Press Agency. "Electromobility has a clear priority for the future. Nothing will change about that." But this path must be taken jointly by politicians and companies, he added.
Katzek complained of consumer uncertainty caused by political decisions. As an example, he cited bureaucratic hurdles in the promotion of electric cars. For example, applications for this could only be made when the new car was registered and there was no legal entitlement to the subsidy. As a result, car buyers would have to pay in advance - without knowing exactly whether they would receive the subsidy. Another key element is the expansion of the charging infrastructure. Here it lacks dynamics, criticized Katzek.
For some time, the concern about the future of their location has been growing among employees of Volkswagen in Zwickau. Because there only E-cars are produced, whose demand remains in the meantime in view of high prices and sinking promotion under the expectations. A works meeting is scheduled for this Thursday in Zwickau. There is talk of successive job cuts by not extending fixed-term contracts. More than 2,000 of the approximately 10,700 employees currently have such fixed-term contracts. In addition, employees fear the loss of bonuses if shifts are reduced.
According to Katzek, carmakers in the region are pursuing different strategies in the switch to e-cars. Unlike Volkswagen, which has converted its Zwickau plant into a pure e-car factory, others such as BMW are relying on mixed production of internal combustion engines and e-cars. In addition, the weak demand also has consequences for local suppliers. Because if fewer cars are built, fewer parts are needed for them, Katzek calculated.
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