The Volkswagen Group is pushing ahead with a company-wide cost-cutting program in Wolfsburg, aiming to reduce costs by around 20 percent by the end of 2028, following internal tightening of targets by CEO Oliver Blume and CFO Arno Antlitz. The program is driven by declining margins, high spending on e-mobility and software, and weaker business […]
On Monday morning, a chain reaction occurred in Schwaigern near Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg after an electric car plugged into a charging station caught fire. The flames spread to a camper van containing gas cylinders, which exploded due to the heat. This damaged several other cars parked nearby, as well as an adjacent house and a
Alarm bells are ringing in Wesertal because current estimates indicate that the reserves for dismantling the Reinhardswald wind farm may not be sufficient. The problem seems harmless until the bill comes due, when a shortfall in the hundreds of millions of euros looms. This shortfall doesn’t automatically go to the operator. Instead, it can trickle
Reinhardswald wind farm – municipalities face dismantling costs in the millions Read More »
At the beginning of February, the water level of the Baltic Sea dropped unusually sharply, by 67 cm below normal. At the same time, approximately one-third of the Baltic Sea is frozen over with a remarkably thick layer of ice. Researchers describe this as a rare weather anomaly because wind and air pressure have a
Baltic Sea 67cm below normal level and one third frozen Read More »
Environment Minister Carsten Schneider is calling for “a bit more local patriotism” from car manufacturers. He wants them to source more raw materials from Germany and Europe. But this demand comes at an inopportune time, as the industry is struggling with costs and sales pressure. At the same time, reforms that could make production profitable
“More local patriotism” – Schneider’s appeal hits an industry in reverse Read More »
Finance Minister Marcus Optendrenk is causing a stir in North Rhine-Westphalia by giving up his electric BMW i7 and switching back to a diesel. He cites long commutes and a tight schedule as the reasons, arguing that charging and range are not reliable enough for an electric car in a rural state. This directly contradicts
Vattenfall is realigning its nuclear strategy. The focus is on extending the operating lives of existing nuclear power plants in Sweden. At the same time, the company is examining the possibility of entering the field of small-module reactor (SMR) technology with new mini-reactors. CEO Anna Borg describes this as a path to predictable generation and
Frost damage from 2024 is the reason why the new district parking garage in Wetzlar is slated for demolition. The new building on Karl-Kellner-Ring has stood empty for two years, despite being urgently needed. Now the Lahn-Dill district is planning its demolition and a completely new structure on the same site. Before the first car
Unease is growing in BASF’s offices, and in Berlin, it’s hitting a particularly sensitive core. The company is restructuring its central service operations, relying on India for the reorganization. Ironically, the Berlin-based service company, where around 3,000 employees handle tasks such as finance, human resources, and logistics for the corporation, is affected. This puts pressure
BASF is relocating administration to India – thousands of jobs are threatened in Berlin Read More »
Germany is reporting record wind and solar output, but the overall impact on the system remains small – and this is precisely where the reckoning with the reality of the energy transition begins. “A lot built, little delivered” describes the situation better than any celebratory announcement, because expansion alone doesn’t solve the supply problem. At
Forklift manufacturer Jungheinrich is closing a German plant and cutting hundreds of jobs. This is due to a massive price attack by Asian suppliers on the global market. However, the closure affects a production facility considered profitable. (bild: 14.02.26) Plant closure by March 2027: Lüneburg loses manufacturing, only some jobs remain Production at the Lüneburg
Jungheinrich closes forklift truck factory in Germany and cuts 500 jobs Read More »
The battery storage boom is reaching a new level of escalation, as grid operators are currently rejecting massive numbers of grid connection applications. TenneT and other transmission system operators are removing hundreds of projects from the process. The number of submitted proposals significantly exceeds the actual usable grid capacity, which is why the operators are
In the Allianz Trade study, a company is considered a large corporation once it reaches at least €50 million in annual revenue. In 2025, Germany reached a record high for these large-scale insolvencies, with 94 companies going bankrupt. Hospitals, the automotive industry, and construction were particularly affected. This represents an increase of eight percent compared
A representative survey conducted by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research on behalf of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt reveals less support for climate protection and the energy transition. Many households are experiencing a decline in their standard of living due to sharp price increases, while at the same time, fears about job security
Survey shows: Climate protection and the energy transition are losing public support Read More »
Robert Habeck sold the green transformation as an engine for economic growth and portrayed new industries as a surefire job creator. His followers celebrated him as a green messiah, even though much of it only seemed viable thanks to subsidies and special regulations. Today, little substance remains of that initial vision of progress, as one
Habeck’s expensive legacy – millions in subsidies wasted Read More »
