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Stellantis is considering selling its European plants – Chinese potential buyers are already on site
Stellantis is preparing a possible restructuring of its European plants because its factories in France, Italy, Spain, and Germany are operating significantly below capacity. The planned sale or division of individual sites will thus affect key industrial regions. The triggers are weak car demand, delayed electric vehicle plans, and high costs. Delegations from Chinese manufacturers…
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Two automotive suppliers on the brink of collapse in one day – over 1,000 jobs at Bohai and Schlote are at risk
In Harzgerode, Wernigerode, Sömmerda, and Brandenburg, two insolvent automotive suppliers are facing operational collapse. On April 28th, it was announced that crucial rescue attempts for the Bohai Trimet Group and the Schlote Group could fail. Major clients are withdrawing orders, while takeover talks have so far yielded no solution. This puts more than 1,000 direct…
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Change of course: Majority of citizens now consider the nuclear phase-out to be wrong
A new representative survey in Berlin reveals how far removed energy policy has become from the public mood. 53 percent of respondents believe the shutdown of Germany’s last nuclear power plants was a mistake, while only 40 percent support it. The debate was triggered by high electricity prices, doubts about security of supply, and the…
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Long-distance bus provider suspends scheduled services – over 300 cities affected
BlaBlaCar is discontinuing its national and international long-distance bus services. The company announced its withdrawal on April 23, 2026. Connections to more than 300 European cities are affected. BlaBlaCar cites fierce competition and sharply rising costs as the reasons for the closure. These costs primarily include personnel, bureaucracy, and the energy-intensive operation of the buses.…
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VW plans to reduce production by one million vehicles in Europe
In Wolfsburg, Volkswagen is preparing a massive cutback: Production in Europe is to be reduced by around one million vehicles per year. VW CEO Oliver Blume justifies the move with weak demand, high costs, and increasing pressure from Chinese competitors. The sluggish sales of electric cars are particularly exacerbating the situation. Several plants, thousands of…
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Bentley Kiev ranks third in dealer rankings: Luxury market sends explosive signal in the war
In March 2026, a luxury dealer in Kyiv garnered international attention when Bentley Kyiv achieved third place in the 2025 European Scorecard Awards. The award is based on the manufacturer’s internal dealer ranking, which assessed several key performance indicators, including sales, profitability, service retention, and customer experience. However, the context remains extraordinary. Ukraine continues to…
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Shipping poised for nuclear comeback: SMR reactors to displace heavy fuel oil on the high seas
In Monaco and Florida, Scorpio Tankers and Ampera launched a collaboration in early April 2026 to develop and market small SMR reactors for shipping. This initiative was driven by rising heavy fuel oil costs, stricter CO₂ regulations, and the challenge of finding alternative energy sources for large ships on long voyages. The systems are designed…
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Detention pending trial for waste disposal company owner due to illegal disposal of wind turbine scrap
In the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria, the Weiden public prosecutor’s office has filed charges against waste disposal entrepreneur Michael Roth and one of his employees. Roth has been in pretrial detention since August 2025. The case concerns allegedly illegal waste shipments to the Czech Republic and Poland since 2022. The investigation was triggered by…
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Energy transition without substance
Germany’s industry continues to lose ground because the promised lower electricity prices have failed to materialize, and the energy transition is driving up costs ever higher. This trend has been underway for years but is now affecting key industrial sectors. The trigger is an energy policy that was supposed to deliver climate targets, security of…
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Rolls-Royce brings British mini nuclear reactors into the construction phase
On April 13, 2026, the UK moved forward with the construction of its first mini nuclear reactors, thanks to a supply contract signed by Great British Energy – Nuclear with Rolls-Royce SMR. The initial plan calls for three small modular reactors, which together are expected to provide enough low-carbon electricity to power the equivalent of…
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Fuel discount 2026 – Government relief threatens to disappear at the pump
The German government is reducing the energy tax by around 17 cents per liter for two months to provide relief to motorists facing high fuel prices. However, initial price fluctuations, past experience, and current studies reveal a key risk. The previously introduced 12 noon rule failed to deliver noticeable relief and, according to studies, even…
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Lower Saxony’s Minister-President Olaf Lies is raising the possibility of building Chinese cars in VW plants
On April 19, 2026, Lower Saxony’s Minister-President Olaf Lies sparked a sensitive debate about the future of Volkswagen’s German plants. The Social Democratic politician, who also sits on Volkswagen’s supervisory board, advocated for examining the possibility of manufacturing Chinese cars at German VW factories. This proposal was prompted by the growing push of Chinese manufacturers…
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The energy transition is outpacing technology – political goals are growing faster than the system
Since 2000, Germany has transformed its energy supply at a rapid pace, politically driven by a concerted effort to phase out nuclear power, initiate the coal phase-out, massively promote wind and solar energy, plan new power lines, and further electrify transportation and heating. These transformations were driven by climate policy, the commitment to phasing out…
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German economy slides deeper into crisis – sentiment reaches new low
Business sentiment in Germany deteriorated further in April 2026. According to a survey of around 1,000 companies conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW), 43 percent reported a worse situation than a year ago, while only 14 percent saw an improvement. At the same time, the anticipated spring boost failed to materialize, as 35 percent…
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Electric cars: a bottomless pit – car companies’ profits plummet to a ten-year low
Nineteen leading automotive groups worldwide are facing a deep earnings crisis after the 2025 fiscal year because the anticipated ramp-up of electric vehicles, particularly in Europe and the US, fell significantly short of expectations. According to an EY analysis published in April 2026, the manufacturers’ total profit plummeted by 59 percent, from €143 billion to…