Bosch CEO calls for aid for structural change in Germany’s car regions

The German car industry sees itself threatened by stricter CO2 limits planned by the European Commission, Volkmar Denner, head of German car part supplier Bosch, has told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten. "Such demanding limit values mean the end of the classic internal combustion engine with corresponding effects on employment in the companies concerned," Denner said following announcements of around 3,500 job cuts in the company over the last few weeks. With the Commission's plans in mind, one should begin to think about support for structural change in Germany's car producing regions, Denner also said. The Bosch head called for the CO2 balance of the entire car production chain to be taken into account as this would give optimised combustion engines, fuel cells and synthetic fuels a chance again, reports Frankfurter Allgemeine.

Germany’s cherished car industry has set out to shift from high-end combustion engines, its traditional strength, to electric cars. This move, together with the digitalisation of mobility, however, requires changes to the workforce and production processes with far-reaching implications for the numerous suppliers. Bosch has added jobs globally over the past few years to meet new demand from digitalisation and e-mobility. But overall, many experts say that digitalised electric mobility will mean fewer jobs in the sector in Germany.