Information meeting in the morning, 20.9.: Habeck wants to help the car industry

It’s about the crisis that has now quickly affected all brands. Habeck said in the evening that the federal government is considering financially supporting Volkswagen. The company denied a report that VW wants to cut 30,000 jobs. However, Volkswagen still has to cut costs. VW’s German plants were only operating at just over a third of capacity last year.

Mercedes-Benz lowers its earnings forecast

The situation was no different for BMW and Mercedes: the Stuttgart-based car company lowered its earnings forecast for the current year this evening. Mercedes is now expecting a margin of between 7.5 and 8.5 percent, instead of the previous 10 to 11 percent. The reason given was the worsening economic environment, especially in China. Earnings before interest and taxes are likely to be significantly below the level of the previous year, according to Mercedes-Benz.

Sales of German electric cars declining

According to the manufacturers’ association, sales of German electric cars fell by more than two thirds in August compared to the previous year. Factories are facing closure and many suppliers are now also seeing a bleak future. In terms of sales, car manufacturers are the most important industrial sector in this country.

Prime Minister Schweitzer admits mistakes in flood disaster

The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), admitted on SWR that mistakes were made at all political levels during the Ahr flood disaster, including at the state level. It is the first time that the state government has admitted mistakes in its area of ​​responsibility. Today, the state parliament will discuss the final report of the investigative committee.