VW Boss Thinks German Car Industry Could Fall From Grace And Become Like Detroit

During an automotive supplier’s conference in Wolfsburg, VW CEO Herbert Diess warned against possible negative effects following recent EU emissions regulation changes and diesel bans.

In fact, Diess went as far as to compare the possible fate of the German auto industry to that of cities like Detroit or Turin, painting a dark picture of what could happen to cities when large corporations are allowed to fail, as reported by Quartz.

“If you look at the former bastions of the auto industry like Detroit…or Turin, you understand what happens to cities when once-powerful corporations and leading industries falter,” said the VW boss. “From today’s point of view, the chances are perhaps 50:50 that the German auto industry will still belong among the global elite in 10 years time,” he added.

He went on to say that the “campaign against individual mobility”, together with the “nearly hysterical nitrogen-oxide discussion about a few problem areas in our cities,” are threatening the very future of the automobile.

Diess also claims that new European CO2 emissions targets for vehicles are too ambitious, in turn putting too much pressure on automakers to adapt quickly. According to him, more electric cars have to be on the roads by 2030 than German automakers can manage, in order for these targets to be met.

After warning that the European Union’s push to cut CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030 would result in roughly 100,000 job losses at the VW Group, EU environment ministers agreed to settle on a 35% reduction, even though more than half the member states were OK with the 40% target.