Bühl, a picturesque town in Southern Germany, faces economic uncertainty as its auto industry struggles with the EU’s plan to ban new combustion engine cars by 2035. Schaeffler, one of Germany’s largest auto suppliers, warns that low demand for electric vehicles and insufficient infrastructure threaten jobs and innovation.
With the automotive sector contributing 7% to the EU’s GDP and employing nearly 14 million people, industry leaders advocate for fair competition among technologies to meet climate goals without sacrificing employment. Local officials in Bühl hope for a balanced approach that supports both electric and combustion engines to secure the region’s future.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.