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Germany’s Economy in Crisis: Trumpf CEO Warns of Loss of Industrial Base
Following an in-house trade fair hosted by the mechanical engineering firm Trumpf, CEO Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller has warned of a severe worsening of Germany’s economic crisis. Around 2,000 business leaders gathered at the event, where the mood was weighed down by high energy prices, inflation, a sluggish economy, rampant bureaucracy, pressure from Chinese exports, and uncertain…
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Electricity Set to Become Even More Expensive – New Levy for Gas Power Plants Planned
On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the Federal Government approved the construction of new gas-fired power plants and additional generation capacity to enhance security of supply, as wind and solar power cannot guarantee power availability at all times. To this end, the Federal Cabinet initiated the draft of the Electricity Supply Security and Capacity Act. The…
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The Charging Station Cost Trap: High Electricity Prices Threaten the Economic Viability of Electric Cars
For many electric vehicle owners, public charging is turning into a financial trap. Prices are rising sharply—particularly at fast-charging stations, along highways, and when making spontaneous, ad-hoc payments. For vehicles with large battery packs, a full charge at a public station can now cost around 70 euros. Consequently, a central promise of electromobility is losing…
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VDA Warns: Shift to Electric Vehicles Threatens Around 225,000 Jobs in the Automotive Industry by 2035
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) anticipates a significantly sharper reduction in automotive jobs in Germany by 2035 than previously expected. VDA President Hildegard Müller cited current projections indicating that 225,000 jobs are at risk due to the transition to electric mobility. This figure is 35,000 higher than previously assumed. The driving factors…
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Hesse Faces Multi-Billion Shortfall – Latest Tax Estimate Hits State and Municipalities Hard
Wiesbaden has reported a significant budgetary risk for Hesse and its municipalities. The new spring tax forecast projects a shortfall of nearly 1.8 billion euros for the state through 2030. Cities, towns, and counties stand to lose nearly 1.5 billion euros. Finance Minister Alexander Lorz cites geopolitical crises, a weak economy, and—additionally—the conflict involving Iran…
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Tanks Instead of Sprinters: KNDS Negotiates with Mercedes over Ludwigsfelde Plant
In Ludwigsfelde, south of Berlin, KNDS is in talks with Mercedes-Benz regarding a potential acquisition or partial utilization of the local van plant. Mercedes plans to phase out Sprinter production at the site by the end of 2029 and relocate it to Jawor, Poland, starting in 2030. The Franco-German defense group is seeking additional capacity…
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Solar Surpluses, Grid Expansion, and New Gas Power Plants Will Determine the Energy Transition
In Essen, E.ON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum delivers a critical interim assessment of Germany’s energy transition, noting that solar power surpluses, negative electricity prices, and lengthy approval processes for grid expansion are complicating the next phase of the transformation. The DAX-listed corporation plays a pivotal role in this context: in Germany, E.ON has connected seven out…
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Abuse of Citizen’s Income Rises Significantly: Job Centers Report More Than 110,000 Cases
The Federal Employment Agency has recorded a significant increase in the misuse of social benefits within the Bürgergeld (Citizen’s Income) system. Job centers reported more than 110,000 cases and suspected cases within the scope of SGB II regulations. This represents an increase of 6.7 percent compared to the previous year. Of particular gravity are 406…
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Energy-Intensive Industry: Production Shrinks, Tens of Thousands of Jobs Cut
Germany’s energy-intensive industries—manufacturers of products such as cement, glass, or paper—have sharply curtailed production and cut tens of thousands of jobs over the past four years due to rising costs. From February 2022 to March 2026, production shrank by 15.2 percent, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden on Friday. The number of…
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Market Opening for Chinese Cars: US Industry Warns Trump of Risks to Jobs and Security
Shortly before the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, opposition is mounting in the United States against opening the market to Chinese automobiles. The automotive industry, labor unions, steel manufacturers, and lawmakers from both parties are warning against imports, the establishment of manufacturing plants,…
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Festo Cuts 1,300 Jobs in Germany – Traditional Company Responds to Sales Crisis
The automation specialist Festo plans to cut around 1,300 jobs in Germany. The company is responding to weaker markets, increased competition from Asia, and geopolitical crises. Furthermore, the current economic downturn is significantly impacting its business operations. In 2025, revenue fell by 3.7 percent to approximately 3.33 billion euros. Consequently, uncertainty is growing for the…
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Utah Approves Gigantic AI Data Center with 9 Gigawatts of Power
In the U.S. state of Utah, the Military Installation Development Authority approved the Stratos project in Box Elder County on April 24, 2026, while the County Commission gave the green light on May 4. The O’Leary Digital campus is slated to be built on approximately 40,000 acres of private land, as well as 1,200 acres…
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Constant Noise at Herrscheid Wind Farm – Residents Complain of Sleep Deprivation
At the Herrscheid wind farm, situated between Oedingen and Cobbenrode, complaints regarding persistent noise have been on the rise for months. The affected areas include Oedingen, Oedingerberg, Brenschede, Leckmart, and Cobbenrode. According to its own statements, AboEnergy has been aware of the noise issues since May 2025. The problems are attributed to malfunctions in the…
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Power Supply in Cuba Collapses – Government: Oil Reserves Depleted
Due to severe energy shortages, the power supply in Cuba has once again collapsed across large areas. The oil reserves supplied by Russia have now been “depleted,” Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated on state television on Thursday. Near the capital, Havana, power outages sparked protests—an occurrence that is relatively rare on the…
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Berlin’s Giant Immersion Heater Set to Convert Surplus Electricity into District Heating
In Berlin, BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme, 50Hertz, and Stromnetz Berlin have commenced construction of a massive new immersion heater for district heating at the Heizkraftwerk Mitte power plant; scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, the unit is designed to convert surplus wind and solar electricity into heat. The start of construction was…