Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is spreading optimism in view of the general mood of crisis. During a visit to the BMW headquarters in Munich on Tuesday, Scholz emphasized his confidence that Germany will succeed in the transformation.
The big task behind the term is “to remain an industrial country, to be at the forefront economically with the most modern technology and at the same time to protect the climate and preserve our biodiversity,” said the Chancellor afterwards. “Anyone who sees production here and can accompany all the changes will leave here with the certain feeling: we will succeed, our country will achieve this.”
Scholz had actually planned two company visits, but the second visit to Airbus was canceled. The federal government is currently busy plugging the threatened billion-dollar holes in the 2024 federal budget.
BMW boss Oliver Zipse refrained from commenting on current politics, but gave Scholz some meaningful words: “Transformation is always simultaneous,” said the manager. “Working today on what the future is and transforming the old into the new, i.e. everything at the same time. And it’s not, and this is our understanding, promising something that you can’t keep.” Specifically, Zipse announced that the main plant in Munich will only produce electric cars by 2030 at the latest.
The BMW works council gave the impetus for the Chancellor’s visit. Scholz emphasized the importance of employee participation: “The most important means of production that Germany has is social partnership.” The chairman of the general works council, Martin Kimmich, thanked: “We are very pleased about his appreciation.”
