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Ford is ending its electric vehicle strategy, drawing a clear line under one of the most expensive transformations in its corporate history. The US automaker is recording $19.5 billion in write-downs, reacting to a significant drop in demand for electric vehicles and changing political conditions in the US. Going forward, profitability, predictability, and robust margins […]

Automotive supplier Huhn-Teckentrup operated profitably at its Hüinghausen site, but noise regulations severely restricted the operation. Although the company remained competitive, the applicable regulations prohibited nighttime operation of a central facility. Because night production will no longer be permitted, production volumes must be relocated. Parts of the manufacturing process will move to the plant in

Merz is attacking the German economy at a time when prudence is needed. The Chancellor is responding to warnings of job losses, deindustrialization, declining tax revenues, and an overstretched welfare state with public rebukes. Instead of dialogue, he is choosing confrontation, even though companies are not arguing politically, but acting economically. Investments are being postponed,

Stuttgart faces the threat of insolvency by the end of 2025 because the city and the Green state government relied on a loss-free transformation of the automotive industry. Losses from conventional technology were supposed to be offset by new business areas in green technology. This offsetting failed to materialize. As a result, Stuttgart’s financial crisis

Evictions are noticeably increasing in Germany, and at the same time, rents, housing poverty, social housing, and tenant protection are increasingly coming into political focus. Within a year, more than 32,000 households lost their homes, even though many of those affected had previously paid their rent regularly. Rising rents and the growing burden of housing

The debate surrounding the costs of the energy transition is intensifying, as the question of what a complete energy supply actually costs increasingly remains unanswered. The example of a medium-sized German city demonstrates that electricity prices, infrastructure costs, and land use are significantly higher than often portrayed. The interplay between wind power, large-scale storage, and

Russian gas in Europe remains a geopolitical bone of contention, even though the European Union has decided to phase it out. Hungary, however, is pursuing its own course because security of supply and price stability are paramount for Budapest. Viktor Orbán is deliberately relying on Turkey to secure Hungary’s energy independence and circumvent Brussels’ regulations

The failure of climate policy became undeniably clear at the COP 30 climate conference in Belém, as the gap between aspiration and reality continues to widen. While the European Union remains steadfast in its pursuit of climate neutrality, other countries are pursuing pragmatic energy and economic policies. COP 30 made it clear that global climate

Rising unemployment among university graduates is fundamentally changing the German labor market because a university degree no longer offers reliable protection. Although businesses have long clamored for qualified personnel, more and more graduates are left without jobs, and even experienced professionals are losing their jobs. The job market for university graduates is in crisis, while

The exodus of German companies is developing into a major risk for Germany as a business location, due to a convergence of economic policy obstacles, rising costs, and international competition. Numerous background discussions with business owners and market observers reveal a consistent picture: investments are being postponed or directly relocated abroad. For investors, this development

The new electric car subsidy program is intended to be socially balanced and reduce emissions, but the promised climate impact has failed to materialize. Despite high subsidies, the climate footprint of the transport sector has barely improved, even though billions are being spent. The electric car subsidy generates attention, but it has not noticeably changed

Germany is rapidly increasing its installed capacity of wind and solar power. Nevertheless, the actual amount of electricity generated is barely growing. This paradox lies at the heart of Germany’s energy transition. Despite continuous expansion, the real electricity supply remains virtually stagnant. The expansion increases theoretical capacity, but not the available amount of energy. Periods

The West Bavaria Ring power line is losing its foundation. Transmission system operator TenneT has deemed the project uneconomical, and it is also absent from the current grid development plan. This sidelines an expansion project that was long considered crucial for the energy transition. Decisive factors include new assumptions about grid load, shifting priorities in

The withdrawal of Danish wind farm developer Eurowind from the United States marks a turning point for the entire energy market. Investors react sensitively as soon as subsidies cease and stable returns are no longer guaranteed. This is precisely the trend shaping the current electricity market in the US. Capital providers are pulling out because,

Mazda is developing a CO₂-negative combustion engine, deliberately positioned against the trend of full electrification. The goal is a powertrain that, theoretically, binds more carbon dioxide than it releases. This concept combines climate protection with existing technology and brings the combustion engine back into focus. At the same time, however, a key conflict emerges: a