Dear reader,
The federal government does not want to let its “automobile dialogue” from last week stand as a new peak of inconclusiveness. In 2026, the coalition is apparently planning to launch a new purchase bonus for electric cars for 3 billion euros.
Up to 4,000 euros for electric vehicles with a list price below 45,000 euros are being discussed; used cars are also to be part of the funding program, and the government also wants to support low-income households and small companies with their purchases. There should be no money for more expensive models. That’s a good thing too.
However, based on these announcements, we shouldn’t expect too much demand for new electric cars in the last quarter of the current year. Our topics of the week:
When it comes to criticizing the automotive industry, Jürgen Resch (65) rarely misses an opportunity. The head of German Environmental Aid (DUH) regularly drives manufacturers and retailers to the brink of madness with his complaining rage. Now, however, the unlikely event occurred that Resch and Co. had nothing to complain about: The DUH had the consumption of the new electric Mercedes hopeful model CLA measured. The Swabians promise 12.2 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers. The DUH test showed: 12.22. However, nothing was officially reported about it. My colleague Margret Hucko investigated the question: Was the CLA too good for the DUH?
If you want to get the cheapest time window for refueling in Germany, you can also play the lottery. At the beginning of the year, the Federal Cartel Office counted an average of 18 price changes per gas station every day. In exceptional cases, the price of petrol and diesel changed more than 50 times. Politicians now want to turn off the fuel roulette. On Friday, the Federal Council is expected to decide that gas station operators will in future Prices are only allowed to increase once a day at 12 p.m.
Deepdrive: China in the fast lane
Automobile manufacturers from South Korea have a stable 7 to 9 percent market share in the European new car business. However, it took many years for Hyundai and Kia in particular to achieve this status. China’s car manufacturers are now also achieving such figures – with far more brands than their Asian neighbors – in a much shorter period of time. In September, China followed suit, according to auto analyst Matthias Schmidt 8 percent market share
For the first time in Europe, it passed Korea (7.8 percent). The Chinese automobile industry continues to gain momentum.
The Volkswagen Group and women in top positions – it remains complicated. At Audi now Purchasing director Renate Vachenauer (55) lost her job. Officially at your own request. For the time being, production director Gerd Walker (55) will take over Vachenauer’s duties. The number of women on the Audi board drops to: zero.
I wish you a week without zero numbers!
Yours, Christoph Seyerlein
Do you have any wishes, suggestions or information that we should take care of journalistically? You can reach my colleagues in the Mobility team and me at manage.mobility@manager-magazin.de
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