BMW boss with meaningful words towards Scholz
In the face of a weakening economy and massive challenges in the automotive industry in the transformation to e-mobility, Chancellor Scholz is emphatically confident during a visit to BMW. The SPD politician gets more in-depth advice from CEO Zipse.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz spreads optimism in the face of a general mood of crisis. During a visit to BMW's main plant in Munich, Scholz emphasized his confidence that Germany will succeed in its transformation. The major task behind the term is "to remain an industrialized country, to be at the forefront economically with state-of-the-art 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 that we will succeed, that our country will succeed."
Scholz had actually planned two company visits, but the second visit to Airbus had been canceled. The German government is currently busy plugging the looming billion-euro holes in the 2024 federal budget.
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse refrained from commenting on the politics of the day, but gave Scholz some meaningful words to take with him: "Transformation is always simultaneous," said the manager. "Working on what the future is today and transforming the old into the new, all at the same time. And it's not, and this is our understanding, to promise something that you can't deliver."
Only electric cars from 2030
Specifically, Zipse announced that only electric cars will be produced at the main plant in Munich by 2030 at the latest.
The impetus for the Chancellor's visit came from the BMW Works Council. Scholz emphasized the importance of employee participation: "The most important means of production that Germany has is the social partnership." The Chairman of the General Works Council, Martin Kimmich, thanked him: "We are very pleased about his appreciation."
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Olaf Scholz showed interest in BMW's strategy towards electric vehicles, as the German chancellor was briefed by BMW CEO Oliver Zipse about the company's plan to produce only electric cars at its Munich plant by 2030.
During his visit to BMW, Olaf Scholz commended the collaboration between BMW's management and its works council, highlighting the value of social partnership in promoting a successful industrial transformation.
Source: www.ntv.de
