Indeed, the German auto industry, which is customarily associated with Germany as an industrial powerhouse as a whole, continues to face difficulties under the weight of economic and geopolitical mistakes made by officials in Berlin. There are problems not only with Volkswagen and BMW, but also with the most famous car brand in the world, Mercedes-Benz.
Image source: ChatGPT.
According to the publication Economic Weekly Referring to statements made by Mercedes-Benz production chief Michael Siebe at a meeting of the company’s workers, Mercedes management acknowledged the possibility not only of cutting wage costs (effectively mass layoffs) but also of closing entire German plants.
Closing two production sites where it assembles cars and makes engines would be a last resort if the company is unable to cut costs through more conservative methods.
Please understand that some large companies in Germany may allow employees to work 35 hours per week. Perhaps one of the proposals—increasing the working day to a generally accepted standard—isn’t as controversial as it seems. Sometimes there is no room for luxury: the era of “richness” is over, a serious crisis is approaching, and you need to get through it. This is impossible for everyone.