Germany's Days as an Industrial Power are Coming to an End

chemgator · Sep 2, 2024

Volkswagen is deciding whether to start closing auto factories in Germany for the first time in history.

Compounding this is the fact that all Germany committed their automakers to a future of making electric vehicles at a time when China is dumping EV's.

‘A very serious situation’: Volkswagen could close plants in Germany for the first time in history

Volkswagen is weighing whether to close factories in Germany for the first time in its 87-year history as it moves to deepen cost cuts amid rising competition from China’s electric vehicle makers.

In a statement Monday, the German automaker, one of the world’s biggest car companies, said that it could not rule out plant closures its home country. Other measures to “future-proof” the company include trying to terminate an employment protection agreement with labor unions, which has been in place since 1994.

“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” said Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume. “The economic environment became even tougher, and new competitors are entering the European market. Germany in particular as a manufacturing location is falling further behind in terms of competitiveness.

Volkswagen, which embarked on a €10 billion ($11.1 billion) cost-cutting effort late last year, is losing market share in China, its single biggest market. In the first half of the year, deliveries to customers in that country slipped 7% on the same period in 2023. Group operating profit tumbled 11.4% to €10.1 billion ($11.2 billion).
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Gatorrick22 · Sep 2, 2024

chemgator said: ↑

Germany was scared after the Japanese nuclear meltdown in 2011, ignoring the fact that none of Germany's nuclear power plant were in danger from a tsunami. Sadly, Germany continued to use nuclear power, by importing it from the Czechs, who had a lower standard of operation for their nuclear plants and were MORE likely to have a nuclear accident.

Germany was also affected by the Chernobyl incident in 1986.
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I admit that being that close to Kiev where a nuclear reactor did in fact blow up and release untold amounts of radiation into the atmosphere would be a bad reality pill to swallow, and wake-up call. But you have to take each and every accident separately and investigate whether or not that could happen in your own country.

A tsunami caused the back-up power supply generation to get flooded out and useless... shorting out all power to cool the reactor, as I remember it. And the Russians were playing dangerous games with their emergency systems in Kiev... The one in Japan was a major design flaw, and the explosion in Kiev was totally preventable... and also a design flaw.

We have billionaires here in the U.S.A. trying to get approval for the next generation nuclear power generation. What do you know about? What specific type of fuel will they use. Thanks... in advance.

duggers_dad · Sep 2, 2024

Shocking election results as the ‘far right’ has made major gains in Thuringia and Saxony.

Next steps: Germany will be loading Poles onto boxcars.

chemgator · Oct 4, 2024

Gatorrick22 said: ↑

I admit that being that close to Kiev where a nuclear reactor did in fact blow up and release untold amounts of radiation into the atmosphere would be a bad reality pill to swallow, and wake-up call. But you have to take each and every accident separately and investigate whether or not that could happen in your own country.

A tsunami caused the back-up power supply generation to get flooded out and useless... shorting out all power to cool the reactor, as I remember it. And the Russians were playing dangerous games with their emergency systems in Kiev... The one in Japan was a major design flaw, and the explosion in Kiev was totally preventable... and also a design flaw.

We have billionaires here in the U.S.A. trying to get approval for the next generation nuclear power generation. What do you know about? What specific type of fuel will they use. Thanks... in advance.
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I don't know much about nuclear reactors. They don't have that much in common with chemical plant reactors. I have heard that the newer designs are an order of magnitude more safe than the older designs.

chemgator · Oct 4, 2024

The CEO of Mercedes says that Germany's auto industry is in a Darwinian survival fight. It's sink or swim.

Mercedes-Benz CEO says auto market is in a ‘Darwinian battle’ as German carmakers flounder

The boss of German carmaker Mercedes-Benz is bracing his company for a “Darwinian battle” as Europe’s auto giants reel from falling demand and the onslaught of Chinese competitors.

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said the biggest challenge facing automakers was halting a crisis of confidence among Chinese consumers.

European automakers have made a significant push into the EV-hungry Chinese market while responding to an unexpected slowdown in the technology’s uptake in Europe.

However, a similar demand glut in China and the emergence of cheap competitors from the region has left Europe’s carmakers fighting fires at home and overseas. For Mercedes-Benz’s Källenius, it has left them in a pivotal moment of sink or swim.
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G8trGr8t · Oct 4, 2024

EU approved up to 45% tariffs on Chinese EVs. Maybe they are starting to comprehend what Chinese dumping can do to their industry

duggers_dad · Oct 4, 2024

How are them Russian sanctions going ?

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