"It is good and right that the Car Dialogue took place today and that the Chancellor, together with the Federal Government and the State Premiers, sought dialogue with the German automotive industry and the trade unions, because a common understanding of the challenging situation – at both the federal and state levels – is essential. The joint work on these pressing issues must now be continued and consolidated with concrete points. We need timely decisions and, subsequently, a united German voice in Brussels.

We welcome that the Federal Government, as well as the State Premiers, have recognized the need for action with regard to CO₂ fleet regulations for passenger cars, light and heavy commercial vehicles, and that they want to work together with the automotive industry and the trade unions on how CO₂ emissions in transport can be significantly reduced while at the same time maintaining the competitiveness of the German automotive industry. Electromobility will make a significant contribution to this. It is a positive signal that the Federal Government is also supporting flexibility options, for example with regard to plug-in hybrids and range extenders. Modern combustion engine vehicles can also make a contribution with increasingly climate-neutral fuels. One thing is certain: these technologies will play a global role on the path to climate-neutral mobility. The jobs required for this should continue to be located in Germany and Europe. The challenges posed by CO₂ fleet regulations arose primarily in Brussels, which is why timely solutions from Brussels are now needed. A strong and united voice from Germany is crucial to finding these.  

One thing is clear: especially given the challenging economic and geopolitical situation, the inadequate political framework for climate-neutral mobility, and the requirements of the transformation, fines must be avoided at all costs. The lacking expansion of charging infrastructure and power grids in Europe – to name just one example – cannot be blamed on the automotive industry. Companies must not be placed under additional and unnecessary strain in the transformation process. This applies not only to passenger car manufacturers, but also explicitly to the commercial vehicle sector.

It is still unclear to what extent the announced purchase incentives will help the automotive industry in Germany. Furthermore, lengthy discussions about their design must be avoided at all costs, and clarity must be achieved quickly to prevent consumer reluctance and a stalling market. Furthermore, short-term flash-in-the-pan measures will help neither consumers nor the industry nor climate protection. And when it comes to incentives, the same conditions must apply to everyone—protectionism is not the right approach.

Under no circumstances should the fundamental framework conditions be neglected, such as the development and expansion of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, power grids, and affordable charging anytime and anywhere. Germany has a lot of catching up to do here, and politicians and the energy industry are urgently called upon to act. This point, too, received strong support.

The federal government must now present the announced draft legislation for vehicle tax exemption for all-electric vehicles until 2035 as quickly as possible and fulfill its commitment from the coalition agreement. The current regulation expires at the end of the year, so the pressure to act is correspondingly high.

Furthermore, the lacking international competitiveness of Germany and Europe as a manufacturing location poses a growing threat to growth, prosperity, companies, and jobs. In particular, high energy costs, a high tax burden compared to international standards, and high labor costs lead to a lack of price competitiveness. Therefore, comprehensive reforms and a strong economic growth agenda are needed to secure Germany's attractiveness and competitiveness in the long term. 

In addition, escalating bureaucracy is placing a strain on companies in the German automotive industry, especially suppliers. As a result, investments are increasingly being shifted abroad and jobs in Germany are being cut. Therefore, measures such as reducing bureaucracy must take industrial SMEs into account much more than before. Financing conditions also pose a challenge for suppliers. It is crucial to bring together and reconcile the issues of banking regulation and the transformation requirements, because companies, especially industrial SMEs, urgently need access to capital to finance the transformation and maintain employment in Germany.

It is also important to note that automated and autonomous driving is a key technology that represents a central pillar of future mobility. The German automotive industry also holds a strong international position in these areas, and our manufacturers are among the world's leading providers of highly automated driving technologies. It is now crucial that the German government pushes forward a non-bureaucratic and harmonized approval process at the European level, both for vehicles and routes. This must function across borders within Germany and between EU member states. Technological excellence is a key success factor for the future of mobility. This includes the development of a high-performance battery ecosystem and research. It is also important to work on a secure supply of raw materials. This is the only way Germany can secure its technological leadership in the long term and pave the way for innovative, safe, and sustainable mobility of the future. We welcome the positive signals that were also given by politicians on these issues today at the Car Dialogue.

We are convinced that climate protection will only be successful if it meets with the necessary social acceptance and prosperity and employment are maintained in Germany. The automotive industry is investing large sums and working hard to achieve the goals."