93 Editorial Dear readers, “Germany on the losing track” was the headline of the FAZ in July 2023. High energy prices and rising interest rates are weighing on the business of German industry in particular. Growth is unthinkable in the second half of 2023. And this is not an isolated opinion. In a survey of German executives by the Allensbach Institute, 61 percent were concerned about the risk of Germany becoming deindustrialized. 53 percent were of the opinion that Germany had passed its zenith. Regardless of whether you think this is just exaggerated Cassandra shouting – the facts speak for themselves and our industry is in danger of falling into a dangerous tailspin. In almost all international rankings, Germany is at best in the middle of the pack as a business location. High energy costs and taxes, inadequate infrastructure and excessively long bureaucratic approval processes are the main points of criticism. The USA with its “Inflation Reduction Act” is currently providing the blueprint for active location policy and ensuring that investments are increasingly diverted from Europe. To prevent location decisions increasingly being made against Germany as a business location, Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, has called on political decision-makers to create better tax conditions for investment in Germany as a business location. A tax reform package with investment premiums is needed, she said, as the automotive industry is dependent on incentives for investment in climate protection. And indeed, there is a lot to be distributed. Both German OEM’s and suppliers plan to invest more than 250 billion euros in research and development worldwide between 2023 and 2027. The substantive focus of this investment volume remains on transformation with the segments of electromobility including battery technology, autonomous driving and digitalization. In addition to the investments for research and development, a further 130 billion euros will flow mainly into production facilities and factory equipment. German and European policymakers must face up to international competition with the USA and China and create competitive conditions that are conducive to investment and innovation. If this does not succeed, companies will orient themselves in the global competition to where they expect to find the better opportunities for the future. In the past, the German automotive industry and its suppliers in particular have demonstrated many times that they have the potential to continue to play a prominent role in global competition in the future. New products and processes that meet future mobility requirements have been developed to market maturity. Backlogs such as those in battery cell development and production are being made up at full speed – including in Germany. The articles in this issue of OEM&Lieferant provide an insight into the status of this development. They are also proof of the competitiveness and innovative ability of the German automotive and supplier industry as well as its service providers and service companies. Our thanks go to all the authors, interview partners and advertising customers for their outstanding cooperation Your editors Elisabeth Klock and Dr. Rudolf Müller Dr. Rudolf Müller Elisabeth Klock OEM&Lieferant www.oemundlieferant.de
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