Federal Government's policy in Brussels needs a definitive directive, as proposed by the mayor's initiative
German Mayors Unite to Secure Future of Automobile Industry
A coalition of over 30 cities and municipalities, including Zwickau, Ingolstadt, Wolfsburg, Saarbrücken, and Dingolfing, have united under the Mayor's Alliance for the future of the German automobile industry. The alliance, which reflects the coalition agreement, aims to safeguard Germany's position as a global automotive hub.
The mayors have voiced concerns about the growing risk of production sites and investments moving abroad due to European over-regulation. Their key demands, as outlined in the coalition agreement, focus on investing in electric mobility and hybrid technologies, strengthening supply chains and infrastructure, promoting advanced manufacturing technologies, supporting regional automotive industry adaptation, and implementing tax incentives and infrastructure investments.
The alliance's initiatives align with the broader coalition and municipal desire to secure jobs, innovation leadership, and economic growth within the German automotive sector. The mayors are calling for the EU to become a place of industrial reason to maintain Europe's competitiveness and vibrant regions. The Mayors of Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Friedrichshafen, and Saarbrücken, along with the initiator of the initiative, have made a joint statement emphasizing these points.
The Mayor's Initiative "For a Strong Automobile Location" is urging the Federal Government, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to advocate for the automobile industry at the European level. The mayors emphasize that they stand united behind their regions and expect Chancellor Merz to do the same in Brussels with the same clarity.
The coalition agreement also commits to maintaining a strong automobile and supplier industry as a key industry and job guarantee in the future. It further pledges to the automobile industry as a key industry, technology openness, and the promotion of climate-friendly drives. The positions of the Mayor's Alliance align almost one-to-one with the demands of the coalition agreement.
The mayors' proposals for tax incentives for electric vehicles, investments in charging infrastructure, and toll exemption for emission-free trucks align with the positions of the coalition agreement. The alliance also advocates for technology openness, the suspension of CO2 penalty payments, the expansion of charging and hydrogen infrastructure, and innovation promotion instead of regulatory excesses.
These cities represent regions where hundreds of thousands of jobs depend directly or indirectly on the automobile industry. As early as spring 2025, the municipal alliance published a position paper calling for these measures. The coalition agreement states a commitment to these initiatives, making it a significant step towards securing the future of the German automobile industry.
For more information, visit www.saarbruecken.de/automobilstandort.
- The alliance, consisting of cities and municipalities including those like Zwickau, Ingolstadt, and Saarbrücken, has focused on policy-and-legislation related to aerospace and finance, emphasizing the need for tax incentives and infrastructure investments to secure the future of the German automobile industry.
- Small-businesses in the automobile industry, relying on the industry's vitality, stand to benefit from the coalition's demands for the promotion of advanced manufacturing technologies and the support of regional industry adaptation.
- The mayors' proposals for the EU, which aim to make it a place of industrial reason, are deeply rooted in politics, as they advocate for the automobile industry's competitiveness and the preservation of vibrant regions.
- General-news outlets often report on the alliance's initiatives, including their efforts to urge the Federal Government to advocate for the automobile industry at the European level and their calls for technology openness in the face of regulatory excesses.
