The center on the DB Cargo platform is used to transport the drive batteries and vehicle components for electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz.
(Photo: dpa)
Munich The situation of the German auto industry is deceptive. The order books of Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Opel are full. But the volume of new orders is falling noticeably in this country. And it’s even worse, says Antje Woltermann, Managing Director of the Central Association of German Motor Vehicle Trades (ZDK), the Handelsblatt: “It is the case that we are seeing the first cancellations.”
In view of the war in Ukraine, rapidly increasing gas and electricity prices, ever more expensive new cars and higher living costs, many consumers would change their consumer behavior. “We’ve been hearing from retailers for more than four weeks that customers are becoming more cautious,” states Woltermann. The industry is unsettled.
The 37,000 car dealerships and garages are still hoping that many potential car buyers will only postpone their plans, to around spring 2023. At the same time, demand is falling, warns Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, director of the Center Automotive Research (CAR). “The German car market is at a tipping point,” he writes in a new analysis that the Handelsblatt was able to see in advance.
Self-registrations at an all-time low
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