German automotive heartlands are calling for stronger protective measures against imports from China! According to a report by the German weekly *Die Zeit* on September 17, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony—key states in Germany’s auto industry—have jointly urged the German government and the European Union to provide urgent support, emphasizing the need to "assess targeted protectionist measures," including anti-subsidy tariffs specifically on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that competition must proceed "in a fair and transparent manner."

It is widely known that major German automakers and numerous component suppliers maintain their headquarters in these regions. In recent years, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen have collectively derived approximately one-third of their profits from the Chinese market. However, "that era has passed." Chinese firms are now capable of producing vehicles—particularly new-energy vehicles—with performance levels fully matching international standards. Moreover, Chinese automakers such as BYD, MG, and XPeng are increasingly expanding into Europe, achieving notable success. As a result, nearly all European automakers, including German ones, have been forced to revise downward their financial forecasts. BMW has warned that it may fail to achieve profitability this year. Last year alone, Germany’s automotive sector lost 52,000 jobs.

In response to growing calls from German states and politicians for heightened protectionism, some online comments from German internet users offer what may be the most balanced and candid assessments. One user noted, "Yes, cars made in China are cheaper—but that’s almost the only external factor; everything else stems from our own choices." Another observed, "(European auto industry) lagging behind is not merely due to lower Chinese production costs, but also because they deliberately missed countless opportunities." A third remarked, "Those who made mistakes now want to extract money from taxpayers? Policymakers remain unawake, while automakers still refuse to acknowledge their own errors." And another stated, "Why has Europe failed to establish leadership in electric vehicle technology and manufacturing? These shortcomings were evident decades ago but have long been ignored—now complaints are finally surfacing..."

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876588112143436/

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