MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - The current business situation of German automakers and especially their suppliers has improved, according to the latest Ifo economic survey. But "expectations for the coming months are consistently pessimistic," Ifo industry expert Anita Wolfl said Monday.

Among automakers, the business situation index rose from 23.8 to 27.5 points in May, and among suppliers it even rose from 35.1 to 43.1 points, she said. Particularly striking: "The supplier companies assessed their earnings situation positively again for the first time in two years."

However, business expectations in the automotive industry as a whole fell to minus 14.1 points in May, having been just in positive territory since the beginning of the year. Concerns were expressed, on the one hand, about the competitive position outside Europe and, on the other hand, about Chinese e-car manufacturers increasingly penetrating the European market./rol/DP/stk