Focus on Stuttgart: top conversation for saving the automotive industry!

On January 10, 2025, an important top discussion was held in the Stuttgart town hall, which addressed the challenges of the automotive industry in the region. Stuttgart is considered one of the world's leading automotive capitals, and the success of the industry is crucial for numerous jobs and prosperity on site. However, the automotive industry faces great challenges, especially through new regulations of the European Union.

Stéphane Séjourné, EU Executive Vice President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy as well as EU Commissioner for Industry, SME and the internal market took part. Séjourné, who has been in office since December 1, 2024, has been made by MPs from the European Parliament from Baden-Württemberg and representatives of large companies, including Mercedes Benz Group AG, Dr. Ing. H. c. F. Porsche AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, Mahle GmbH and Daimler Truck AG, accompanied. Representatives of the State of Baden-Württemberg, the Stuttgart region as well as business associations and unions were also present. During his visit to Stuttgart, Séjourné plans to visit several companies together with Mayor Nopper.

EU climate specifications and their consequences

The automotive industry is also put under pressure by the new EU climate requirements. The limit for CO2 emissions is currently 115.1 grams CO2 per kilometer, measured in the WLTP test procedure. A drastic reduction in limit values is planned: by 2025, they should drop to 93.6 grams of CO2 per kilometer and until 2030 to 49.5 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Manufacturers who exceed these requirements risk fines.

In order to avoid potential punishments, manufacturers could be necessary to set the production and sale of over two million vehicles with internal combustion engines. This would result in the closure of eight production facilities and endanger millions of jobs. A proposal provides to apply an emergency article to postpone the introduction of the stricter guidelines by two years. The European ACATION ACTAGE AutoA has confirmed that a corresponding document circulates, even though it does not represent the association's official paper. Environmentalists were outraged by this advance; Sebastian Bock, Managing Director of Transport & Environment Germany, criticized the car manufacturers for high profits and a lack of preparation for the CO2 goals.

Developments in the automotive sector and the impending consequences of the EU climate specifications require urgent solutions to keep the industry on course.