ZWICKAU (dpa-AFX) - According to industry expert Stefan Bratzel, German car manufacturers are falling behind their Chinese competitors when it comes to innovation. The innovative strength of car manufacturers in China has grown year on year and is now greater than that of German producers, warned Bratzel at a car congress in Zwickau on Wednesday. "This is a critical situation for Germany as a business location." In order to be fit for the future, German manufacturers and suppliers would have to be at least as innovative as their cars are more expensive than those of the competition.

China is the world's largest car market and, unlike Europe and the USA, has recently significantly exceeded its pre-coronavirus crisis figures in terms of domestic sales. In terms of unit sales, China is the world's second largest exporter and is set to overtake Japan this year, said Bratzel, who heads the Center of Automotive Management in Bergisch Gladbach. This is being driven primarily by the growing demand for e-cars. According to a survey, the willingness to buy models from Chinese manufacturers is already between 40 and 50 percent in Germany and the USA.

Almost 100,000 employees in Saxony

The automotive industry is an important pillar of Saxony's economy, with Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche as well as many suppliers. Around 98,000 people work in car-related companies in the state. The industry is undergoing radical change. "The automotive industry is undergoing the greatest transformation of all time," said Dirk Vogel from the supplier network AMZ at the two-day congress in Zwickau.

Industry representatives urged more speed in this transformation. "As the big ship Germany, we need to speed up," warned Max Jankowsky, President of the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce and head of a foundry in the Ore Mountains. "Made in China currently stands for affordable, innovative mobility." Politicians must improve the framework conditions, especially for medium-sized suppliers. He cited energy costs as an example, as well as the lack of consideration given to the Chemnitz region in the development of a hydrogen network.

"We feel nothing of it"

Harry Rogasch from the Chinese e-car manufacturer Nio said that the pace set by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was a good idea, "but we don't feel any of it." The manufacturer, known for its battery swap concept, now also sells its cars in Germany and has more than 1,200 employees in the country. Nio sees itself being slowed down when it comes to setting up battery exchange stations. The approval process for each individual station takes more than a year. So far, the company has built seven stations. "It could easily be 50 or 60," emphasized Rogasch.

According to Bratzel, car manufacturing will increasingly become a software business. Manufacturers and suppliers in Germany are finding this very difficult. He also predicted a stronger price war for e-cars. However, as things stand, the coalition's target of at least 15 million fully electric cars by 2030 will clearly not be achieved. In view of the development of new registrations to date, only 7 to 8 million battery-electric cars are realistic in 2030.

The key factors for advancing electromobility are range, charging infrastructure and the price of the vehicles, said Bratzel. With a dense and reliable fast-charging network, the vehicles themselves would need less battery capacity and could become correspondingly cheaper. "But we still have a huge problem here."/hum/DP/jha