Christoph Seyerlein

IG Metall President Christiane Benner sets out an agenda for investment and job security in response to the German auto summit yesterday: "In view of the worsening crisis in the automotive industry, the sluggish ramp-up of electromobility, the reluctance to invest in the electromobility value chain, the time pressure in international competition for the markets of the future and the foreseeable failure to meet climate targets, IG Metall is now calling for a rapid new funding package for electromobility. Accelerating the ramp-up of e-mobility would help the climate as well as the manufacturers and suppliers who have invested billions in e-mobility. Investments must be worthwhile and fines next year for missing climate targets would be a fatal waste of money... We call on employers: Stop the hectic and action-oriented reductions in staff and locations. We need investments in the future and securing skilled workers, staying power instead of quick returns. Let us talk instead: exchange instead of excuses. But we have also made it clear that we believe it is the responsibility of politicians to do much more to support the politically set goals." https://lnkd.in/egTj_j9w industriAll Europe

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Detroit understands only very little of the Car Market   After the surprise that the Head of Ford in Germany left for Volkswagen, this was the comment on the printed newspaper of 7th of June and on the internet at https://lnkd.in/eg3NS2sZ   The scenario around the once important German participation of Ford is actually best described as a shambles. Ford wanted a European strategy which pointed towards a fast change towards battery electric cars. But for some technical reasons which are still difficult to understand, the market start of the electrical Ford Explorer built in Cologne has been delayed for almost one year. Now, two days after the start of production in grand series, the German Ford Boss Martin Sander left the company, rejoining Volkswagen Group.   Due to the delay, the new electric cars by Ford now start during a slack market, and on top of this, Ford in Europe stands now without a leader. In general, it was right to change the structure of the models offered in Europa, from a full range towards offering a selected number of cars in important segments. But for this reason, at this moment Ford is not flexible enough to react to changing demand between cars with internal combustion engine and electric models. At this point it is also little help that Ford started to reposition its brand, with American flair and an image linked to outdoor – as this effort is still in its beginnings.   The Detroit headquarters of Ford could now be tempted to cut and delete, or at some point to withdraw completely. Such instincts come from the arrogance of the past. But Detroit is not the navel of the motorcar world anymore, and the USA are by far no more the most important market. Last year, the market for passenger cars, with 3,1 million new registrations, was barely any bigger than the German one with 2,8 million new registrations – because beyond the market for passenger cars there is the segment of Pick-ups and Offroaders, since many years protected by high tariff walls.   So it does not help, if now Detroit finance managers intended to show how the car business works. The opposite applies: Car producers from Detroit are not competitive outside their local niche, and they are still less able to see through long term market stratregies.

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There is not a more suitable name for this event. An interesting exchange among VW Partners and with Volkswagen. Great insights and a unique opportunity to deep dive some strategical topic. Thanks to all the partners, colleagues, former colleagues and new contacts for the enriching experience #VWPartnerFOrum #ASAP #HCLTEch #Codebeamer #PAK #ALM #PLM #SWDevelopmen #Engineering

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