The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that “In Germany, where battery electric car subsidies ended in 2023, sales of electric cars fell by almost 5% in the first quarter of 2024.” Does this signal the impending downfall of Germany’s EV market? Absolutely not. Although the EV momentum has slowed down with Volkswagen’s planning closure, the German government is making bold moves to revive its domestic EV industry.
Is Volkswagen Shutting Down in Germany as Competition Looms?
Lately, this news has been making rounds as Germany’s home brand Volkswagen plans to shut down factories to cut costs. This is because the company has been facing stiff competition from Chinese EV makers, particularly in its largest market, China.
VW CEO Oliver Blume warned that Germany was losing its competitiveness as a manufacturing hub, noting that the European automotive industry was under significant strain. Industry experts explained this problem somewhat this way- Volkswagen, which launched a €10 billion ($11.1 billion) cost-cutting plan in 2023, struggled in China as local EV brands like BYD gained market share.
Consequently, the automaker saw a 7% drop in deliveries in the Chinese market in the first half of this year. This decline further contributed to an 11.4% fall in group operating profit, which dropped to €10.1 billion ($11.2 billion). Simply put., falling market share in China added to the pressure.
The transition to EVs disrupted Germany’s traditional automobile industry. In another media report, we discovered that car suppliers like ZF Friedrichshafen planned to cut up to 14,000 jobs in Germany by 2028 due to financial pressure and reduced orders. Amid all this clamor and turmoil, Volkswagen indicated that plant closures were a possible option to “future-proof” its business.
Volkswagen’s Alarm Prompts Urgent Government Action
Looking ahead, the German government has served some good news for its domestic EV industry. The coalition approved a new tax proposal to boost the EV market after last year’s sudden end to the subsidy program slowed progress. The initiative came just after Volkswagen blew the whistle of closing down. Notably, new registrations of EVs in Germany plummeted by 36.8% in July compared to the previous year. This highlighted the urgency for a renewed tax policy.
The plan, which is part of a larger package designed to revitalize the German economy, introduces significant tax reductions for company fleets of electric and zero-emission vehicles. Starting in 2024, companies will be able to write off up to 40% of the value of newly purchased EVs, gradually decreasing to 6% by 2028.
The government expects this tax relief to cost around €465 million ($514 million) annually.
Germany Pushes for EV Growth with New Tax Breaks
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet also raised the price threshold for company cars eligible for tax breaks from €75,000 to €95,000. This change will benefit a broader range of vehicles, including luxury models from German automakers. Economy Minister Robert Habeck emphasized the importance of the car industry to the country’s economy, calling it a “cornerstone” that must keep up with global competition, especially from China.
However, while the auto industry association VDA praised the government’s initiative, critics argued the tax breaks would primarily benefit high-income earners. Environmentalists also doubted whether the new measures would significantly boost EV sales, especially after the sudden halt to consumer subsidies late last year, which led to a 70% drop in new EV registrations in August.
With Germany’s EV market struggling and competition from China increasing, the government’s move to incentivize corporate EV adoption signals a critical effort to revitalize the country’s automotive industry and ensure it remains competitive on the global stage.
Germany Drives Dynamic Developments in Automotive R&D
Germany has always pushed investment in automotive R&D. Currently, its automotive industry experiencing a major transformation, with digital and sustainable mobility emerging as the top choice for consumers.
In the latest report released by the EU Industrial R&D Investment, German automotive companies increased their R&D investments by 15% in 2022, reaching a total of €52.2 billion. This shows the industry’s commitment to staying competitive and leading the charge in future technologies.
Other than this, German automakers are making a significant impact on the global stage. Data shows:
- In 2022, 30% of the global automotive R&D investments came from German companies.
- German manufacturers and suppliers accounted for 72% of all R&D spending by European automotive companies worldwide.
Hildegard Müller VDA President noted,
“The massive investments by the German automotive industry show our determination to turn the transformation into an international success story. The German automotive industry supports the climate goals and wants to make climate-neutral mobility a reality as quickly as possible. We are drivers of transformation.”
Source: VDA Germany
With nearly one-third of global automotive R&D investments coming from Germany, the country is crucial in shaping the industry’s future. This strong focus on innovation, coupled with new EV tax incentives, demonstrates Germany’s commitment to advancing the EV market and tackling emissions. As a result, Germany is set to lead the way toward a brighter, more sustainable automotive future.
