Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (62, CDU) has presented key points for a billion-dollar program with the Auto supplier to be supported in structural change. According to information from the German Press Agency, the program is intended to accelerate transformation, strengthen innovation and advance the use of data. The Ministry of Economic Affairs assumes that the program can come into force on January 1, 2021. The key points now go into the departmental coordination. A total of two billion euros is to be made available for the program by 2024.
The black-red coalition agreed in June on a “bonus program” as part of its economic stimulus package. The main aim is to promote future investments by the supplier industry. Many auto suppliers are currently in a difficult position. The corona crisis caused the demand for cars to collapse, but companies also have to invest a lot of money in new drives. Many suppliers are still attached to the combustion engine.
Money for new plants, Industry 4.0 and environmental protection
According to dpa information, the federal government’s program should be based on three pillars. On the one hand, investments in new facilities, Industry 4.0 and environmental protection are to be promoted. This is intended to support the change in production. “The switch to new products, especially in e-mobility, requires an adaptation of production,” it says. “Faster innovation cycles require more flexible production systems. The cost pressure in production is high.” On the other hand, it is about researching and developing innovations such as new drives. In addition, “innovation clusters” are to be set up.