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Deutsche Bahn’s new ICE trains will start with borrowed locomotives – no approval for the new ones
The new ICE L has been in service since mid-December, but Deutsche Bahn’s ICE train is starting its operations under unusual circumstances. The newly planned power cars still lack the necessary approval, forcing the company to rely on borrowed locomotives. This lack of approval necessitates a temporary solution and is noticeably impacting the start of…
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Electricity prices in Germany – why households pay more than in the rest of Europe
Electricity prices in Germany have been at record highs across Europe for years, placing a significant burden on private households. Hardly any other European country charges such high prices per kilowatt-hour, despite comparable security of supply and grid infrastructure. High energy costs, rising electricity taxes, increasing grid fees, and the consistently levied value-added tax on…
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Aggressive mood in the economy – industry warns of political paralysis
An aggressive mood is spreading through German business, increasingly directed against the federal government. Business leaders accuse politicians of a lack of decisiveness and an excessively slow pace of reform. The president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) speaks in this context of a “truly aggressive mood” that is becoming increasingly evident in discussions…
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Consumer crisis in Germany – Buyer sentiment and consumer climate at new lows
The consumer crisis in Germany is worsening significantly towards the end of the year. It is reaching a new low, even though many households traditionally spend more in December. Consumer sentiment, the propensity to save, the consumer climate, and inflation are all contributing factors, as uncertainty is influencing decisions and savings are becoming more important.…
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European emissions trading under attack – Eastern Europe is shaking EU climate policy
The European emissions trading system is becoming a political flashpoint, as several Eastern European states seek to force a further delay. At the same time, energy prices, CO₂ taxes, the EU’s climate targets, and the competitiveness of member states are increasingly coming under scrutiny. Although Brussels has already postponed the system’s launch to 2028, the…
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Hamburg is artificially improving its climate footprint by including stoves in Africa that never existed
Hamburg’s carbon footprint is at the heart of a political process that extends far beyond a single project. For years, the city improved its CO₂ figures using carbon offsetting and emission certificates from Africa, even though the furnaces financed for this purpose did not exist in those countries. While measurable savings were reported on paper,…
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Financial turning point in the Starnberg district – a region of millionaires slides into debt
The district of Starnberg is considered the epitome of prosperity, but its financial situation tells a different story. Rising debt, increasing expenditures, and limited revenues are putting the district under increasing pressure. Debt is approaching €100 million, could double in the short term, and could even reach €280 million in the long term. Despite high…
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EU Fleet Plan – Germany is to meet stricter requirements than other countries
The new EU fleet plan is bringing about a clear shift in power within the European automotive market, as Germany is expected to meet significantly stricter requirements than many other countries. While the planned quotas officially only apply to large customers, this segment dominates new car sales. At the same time, electric vehicles, fleet quotas,…
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Eterna faces a decision – insolvency under self-administration and the fight for the brand
Eterna has filed for insolvency under self-administration at the Passau District Court after a key financing deal fell through. The well-known shirt manufacturer is reacting to an acute liquidity shortfall but intends to continue operations without interruption. The goal is to secure the company’s financial viability, tap into new sources of capital, and stabilize the…
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Referendum on the Bruchsal wind farm – project developer backed out, taking trust with them
The referendum on the wind farm in Bruchsal ended with formal approval, but the process continues to cause discontent. The crucial point: the intended project developer had already withdrawn by the time the citizens were called to vote. This fact significantly influenced the decision-making process, yet remained hidden from many voters. This is precisely the…
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Taxpayer money wasted at the Ministry of Finance: 35 million euros for unusable smartphones
The German Federal Ministry of Finance wasted approximately €35 million of taxpayers’ money by purchasing 17,321 security smartphones for the customs administration. Due to missing IT approvals and serious functional defects, the devices were practically unusable. The Federal Court of Auditors exposed the issue, while the customs administration received virtually no compensation. This puts a…
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Transparent factory facing closure – VW pulls the plug on car production in Dresden
The last ID.3 has been built, marking the end of an era at the Transparent Factory, an era that shaped Volkswagen for years. VW Dresden is losing its vehicle production, even though the site has long been considered a symbol of modern industry. Electric car production is ceasing, but at the same time, a new…
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Economic institutes consider 15 years of continuous stagnation in Germany to be realistic
A growing number of forecasts indicate that Germany could face up to 15 years of prolonged stagnation. The shift in perspective among economic research institutes is noteworthy, as their earlier assessments were long considered overly optimistic and had to be regularly revised downwards, resulting in a significant loss of confidence. Now, the warnings are considerably…
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Jaguar on the brink of collapse – electric strategy drives traditional brand into an existential crisis
Jaguar on the brink of collapse – this stark description of the British manufacturer’s situation is more accurate than any marketing slogan. Following the complete shift to electric mobility, the company is facing a shortage of vehicles, sales, and trust, while the Jaguar crisis is visibly escalating. The announced electric relaunch was intended to rejuvenate…
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Offshore wind power expansion is stalling – investors warn of lost returns and planning chaos
Offshore wind power expansion is faltering because investors fear for their returns in the current tendering process, which lacks feed-in tariffs. This concern is compounded by an immature tendering process, uncertain spatial planning, and growing doubts about contracts for difference. At the same time, offshore wind power expansion suffers from a lack of reliability, even…