Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Reminder: The German Manufacturing Disaster Has Not Gone Away

 First up, from Deutsche-Welle, November 22:

Germany: Bosch to cut 5,000 jobs with car industry in crisis
The car parts manufacturer said some 3,800 of the layoffs are to be made in Germany. Bosch and other German firms are pushing to reduce costs in order to stay competitive in the international market.

German automotive supplier Bosch plans to lay off 5,000 employees, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

The planned job cuts come as German auto companies push to reduce costs in order to stay competitive in the international market.

What do we know about the job cuts at Bosch?

Bosch's spokeswoman said that some 3,800 of the job cuts are to be made in Germany.

She added that the exact number of layoffs will be negotiated in talks with workers' representatives.

In a separate statement, Bosch said it was having to make significant investments in new technologies.

"We must adapt our structures to the changing market environment and reduce costs sustainably to strengthen our competitiveness," Bosch manager Stephan Hölzl said.

The firm also pointed to overall stagnation in the market.

"Global vehicle production will stagnate this year at around 93 million units, if not decline slightly compared to the previous year," Bosch said.

Workers' council head decries plans as 'slap in the face'
According to Bosch, manufacturers need significantly fewer parts to make electric vehicles, also making the process less labor-intensive....

....MUCH MORE

And from Reuters, October 29:

German car industry transformation could cost 186,000 jobs by 2035, study finds

The transformation of the German car industry could lead to 186,000 jobs losses by 2035, of which roughly a quarter have already occurred, a study commissioned by the VDA auto industry association released on Tuesday showed.

The 46,000 jobs already lost between 2019 and 2023 were due mainly to the transition to electric vehicles, according to the study conducted by research institute Prognos.
In its report, the VDA points to the loss of competitiveness in Germany due to the high price of electricity, tax rates and increasing red tape....
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