In an interview with BILD, the President of the VDA Automobile Association, Hildegard Müller, warns of the consequences of rising petrol prices and an expansion backlog in electromobility.
BILD: Ms. Müller, did you already have the opportunity to speak to the new Minister of Economic Affairs?
Hildegard Müller: We had an initial conversation and had a good exchange.
So the fear of a Greens in the Ministry of Economic Affairs doesn’t keep you awake?
Müller: “I sleep very well, don’t worry. We should look for similarities in the debate about the right course and overcome all the old enemy images. We are facing the greatest transformation in the history of German industry. The automotive industry is ready: We want to prove that growth, prosperity, jobs and climate protection do not contradict each other. The corporations are investing massively in the conversion of their plants and factories, in digitization and alternative drives. I expect the others to do their homework too. “
What is the problem?
Müller: “The traffic debate in our country is extremely heated. There are some non-governmental organizations that claim to speak for society as a whole. In fact, they often argue from a very privileged perspective. Something has gotten out of balance – and I can only warn against that: Climate protection must not divide our society. “
Which privileged perspective do you mean?
Müller: “There is often a lack of willingness to recognize people’s different living conditions. City dwellers are not allowed to dictate to rural people how to live. Whoever gets up early in the morning to unlock a shop or sit down at a supermarket checkout carries our company. We mustn’t put obstacles in the way of these people, they have the right to drive in their own car, especially where there is insufficient public transport. If the coalition wants to stand for departure, it has to overcome the old ideological rifts. Mobility must not become a privilege for the rich.
Where is that threatened?
Müller: “When it comes to the price of petrol, for example, many people are now reaching their limits. The price of electricity has recently climbed to new highs. That also makes mobility more expensive. Rising fuel and energy prices are a particular burden on people with limited budgets. The federal government must tackle this now and find a solution that – despite the necessary changes – does not burden the socially disadvantaged too much. “
Is there a need for a mobility grant for low-income earners?
Müller: “Above all, the federal government should review its own tax model, because taxes and charges make up the majority of gasoline and energy prices. The high prices not only overwhelm the citizens – they also mean a major competitive disadvantage for German industry. The automotive industry alone employs 800,000 people, and we must not endanger these jobs. We would be putting the prosperity of our country at risk. “
The electricity price explosion is also a result of the energy transition. How’s that going for the auto industry?
Müller: “Not so good. If you want renewable energies, you have to build them. However, despite many efforts, our country is not making sufficient progress with this expansion. Infrastructure planning and approval takes too long – and the slow review of appeals slows down projects. Germany is years behind its own plan. This also hits the automotive industry hard: Because we need green electricity so that electromobility is climate-neutral. And charging stations. Actually, 2,000 new charging points should be set up every week, in fact there are only just under 300. Politicians must increase the expansion speed sevenfold. “
So the electromobility revolution threatens to fail?
Müller: “Failure is not an option. We take climate protection seriously and want to achieve climate-neutral mobility as quickly as possible. We are doing everything to ensure that Germany continues to produce the world’s best, safest, most efficient, highest quality, highest quality and of course climate-neutral vehicles for all segments. So the question is how we can bring about change, not whether. For that, everyone has to roll up their sleeves. “
What about the pandemic, is it still putting your companies under pressure?
Müller: “Due to the Corona crisis and many delivery problems, the auto industry is currently unable to buy enough semiconductors and raw materials in sufficient quantities on the market. This has immense consequences for the companies that do not build as many cars as they could – and are ordered. And that in turn has consequences for customers: Consumers may have to wait a little for their new car in the next year as well. An active foreign policy that advocates raw materials and trade agreements in order to ensure security of supply in the future is therefore also on the government’s agenda. “
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