We will not give in!

We’ll just give up. Probably next week some time.

But we will not give in!

Germany leads defiance of Trump car tariffs, saying it ‘will not give in’ – President Donald Trump targets imported cars and car parts with a 25% tax in his latest tariffs.

Other major world economies have vowed to retaliate, with France’s president branding the move “a waste of time” and “incoherent”, Canada calling it a “direct attack”, and China accusing Washington of violating international trade rules.

Let’s talk

Talking is always good. But action is better.

Until today, the EU imposed import tariffs on US cars five times higher than the tariffs imposed by the US on European imports.

That’s changed now.

German minister, autos lobby call for urgent EU-US talks over tariffs.

In a word, “no”

Or nein, if you prefer.

Another Green daydream comes to its inevitable end. Sheesh. German Greens don’t even know what country they live in.

Germany’s Autobahn — finally time for a speed limit?

The majority of Germans want a motorway speed limit, and environmental groups say it would help cut emissions. But are their arguments strong enough to convince those opposed to slower speeds on the Autobahn?

PS: A limit of 120 MILES per hour (image) might fly, but I doubt it.

It HAS stopped making cars…

Real cars. And with that, the fun for Germany has only just begun.

What if Germany stopped making cars? Imagine Volkswagen goes the way of Nokia.

“The future of the vw brand is at stake.” When Thomas Schäfer, the mass-market marque’s newish boss, gave a presentation to his management team in early July, he did not sugarcoat its problems. High costs, falling demand, growing competition—the list goes on. “The roof is on fire,” he warned, echoing one of the most noted alarm calls in recent business history—from Stephen Elop, who in 2011 compared his company to a “burning platform” shortly after taking the helm at Nokia, then the world’s largest maker of mobile phones…

The Real Reason Why Germans Won’t Stop Speeding?

Like, duh. Because they like it.

This ain’t rocket science or anything.

The real reason Germans won’t stop speeding – If Germany would implement a speed limit on its highways, it could reduce millions of tons of carbon emissions each year. Most other rich industrial countries already have one. What’s behind this German love of speeding?

Export This

Germany still exports cars like hotcakes.

But China exports more.

China’s car exports surpass Germany’s after 54.4 per cent surge to 3.11 million in 2022, narrowing Japan’s lead – China has surpassed Germany to become the world’s second-largest car exporter after mainland exports jumped 54.4 per cent year on year to 3.11 million vehicles in 2022, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

German Of The Day: Verbot

That means ban. The only thing the German Green party does well. And they do it with vehemence. And constantly.

Germany to support EU plans for 2035 ban on new fossil-fuel cars, says environment minister – Germany plans to vote in support of a European Union package that would effectively ban the sale of new cars with combustion engines from 2035, said the environment minister on Tuesday.

“If the package includes what the Commission suggested, banning cars that emit carbon dioxide from 2035, then we will vote in support,” Environment Minister Steffi Lemke told broadcaster ZDF.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) said at an event hosted by Germany’s BDI industry association last week that the German government would not agree to the plan.

It’s Not A Threat

Tesla already has disrupted everything.

Tesla

Tesla’s Factory Threatens To Disrupt German Auto Industry. The Germans are playing catch-up now. Scheiße happens. The innovator always leads.

This is a lucrative business for Tesla. The company made $3.3 billion in the past five years from 11 states in the U.S. that, like the EU, force automakers that can’t meet emissions reduction goals to buy credits from companies like Tesla. But this revenue stream promises to run dry in the coming years as EU automakers ramp up their electric vehicle fleets. But because Tesla’s entire fleet is electric, Birgit Dietze of IG Metall, Germany’s auto workers union, says the company is already ahead of its German competitors.

 

What A Shocker

Not. Again. Yawn.

Speed

The latest proposal to introduce a general speed limit on German autobahns has not received the needed support from lawmakers.

I’ve never understood this. From time to time the Greens & Co. suggest that Germans reduce their speed on the autobahn. It’s a fine idea, I guess. In theory. But that would be like asking Americans to turn in their guns. It ain’t never going to happen.

Der Vorschlag des Umweltausschusses, die geplante Änderung der Straßenverkehrsordnung um eine Höchstgeschwindigkeit von 130 Kilometern pro Stunde zu ergänzen, fand am Freitag in Berlin wie erwartet keine Mehrheit in der Länderkammer.

German Of The Day: Tiefstand

That means lowest level. You know, like the current 23-year low in German car production?

Tiefstand

German car production fell to its lowest in almost a quarter of a century as Europe’s biggest economy suffers from the fallout of a global trade war.

Automakers including Volkswagen AG, BMW AG and Daimler AG produced 4.66 million vehicles in German factories last year, the weakest since 1996. The country’s VDA car lobby, which published the figures on Monday, said the 9% decrease was a result of waning demand from international markets.

The industry is set for more tough times this year. The VDA predicted global car deliveries will drop to 78.9 million vehicles from 80.1 million in 2019.