10-Point Paper to Strengthen the Automotive Location

With a 10-point paper to strengthen the automotive location of Germany and Europe (PDF), Baden-Württemberg is participating in the strategic dialogue on the future of the automotive industry of the European Commission, which was initiated under the leadership of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on January 30, 2025.

The state government calls for, among other things, an immediate review of the CO₂ fleet targets for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and trucks, as well as the suspension of possible penalties during the review, the rapid expansion of the EU-wide charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and a reduction in electricity prices at charging stations.

"We must strengthen the internal market in Europe and focus on innovations. The connected car of the future must roll off the production line in Europe and Baden-Württemberg. Both the automotive industry and politics bear a great responsibility to strengthen the citizens' trust in electromobility," stated Minister President Winfried Kretschmann in Brussels on the sidelines of the external cabinet meeting. Already on the evening before, Kretschmann had exchanged views on this with other cabinet members and representatives of the European Commission at the Baden-Württemberg State Representation.

"The automotive industry will exemplarily show how the European economy will develop in the coming years," Kretschmann further emphasized. "This leading industry includes large manufacturers as well as many small and medium-sized suppliers scattered throughout Europe. The automotive industry is investing billions in transformation, but the switch to climate-neutral vehicles is not progressing as quickly as hoped. In addition, there are looming trade conflicts and penalties. Therefore, we must do everything we can to accelerate the ramp-up of electromobility and provide the necessary framework conditions at the European level. This includes a reliable network of charging stations with attractive prices. This is crucial for people to decide to buy an electric car. Europe must become generally simpler, faster, and more dynamic."

Deputy Minister President Thomas Strobl added: "We are the cradle of the automobile. Cars made in Germany have always been among the best, safest, and most innovative in the world. This must not only be a record of past times but also the aspiration for the future. We are facing a turning point, not least because digitization and new drive technologies are completely reshaping the automotive market. All the more, we must set the course for a competitive automotive industry in Baden-Württemberg and thus also create the conditions for openness to technology."

Strategy Dialogue Bundles Expertise from Politics and Business

Kretschmann emphasized that Europe needs a well-thought-out, long-term strategy and industrial policy in key economic areas to address the challenges.

“More than seven years ago, we created the Automobile Industry Strategy Dialogue BW in Baden-Württemberg, a partnership in which we work together in a structured manner. Trade unions, manufacturers, suppliers, science, organizations, associations, and politicians have embarked on this journey together. The result is an important alliance between politics and business that has jointly advanced the central transformation topics. But it is also clear: to move the big levers, Europe is needed. And that is why I am very pleased that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has now established a similar format at the European level.”

At the same time, Kretschmann called for the inclusion of not only the EU Parliament and the member states but also the European automotive regions closely in the European strategy dialogue. “After all, we are the ones implementing what is decided at the European level locally.”