(In the report sent on 29.11.2024 (15.01), the first paragraph was corrected: "(a), said Ina Schaefer from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.")

BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - According to experts, the German car industry must work much more efficiently. "This is the only way it will remain competitive internationally in the medium to long term," according to a recommendation paper from the Expert Group on the Transformation of the Automotive Industry (ETA) appointed by the Ministry of Economics. "It's really about producing more in the same amount of time and reducing costs," said Ina Schaefer from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

According to the recommendations, "radical networking along the entire value chain is necessary". "In regional clusters and production networks, joint development can take place, parts of the value chain can be coordinated and investments can be made together." Significant leaps in production are only possible with a fundamental changeover.

Batteries or semiconductors should be produced in Germany

The automotive industry in Germany is under pressure. Volkswagen, for example, is planning to close several plants. "There is a distribution battle for the future of the automotive industry and its value creation," says the ETA. Global competition between locations is also intensifying due to extensive government investment and subsidy programs, particularly in the USA and China. Against this backdrop, the experts make further recommendations for the economy as well as for German and European politics.

These include the development of key areas of the value chain for electric cars, such as batteries and semiconductors. Politicians should not shy away from making demands on individual companies. In order to improve the conditions for companies, energy costs must also be reduced and bureaucracy cut./wim/DP/jha