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Thursday, Aug 20, 2026
Das Deutsche Blatt

German Automotive Employment Falls Below 700,000 as Industry Faces Prolonged Downturn

Employment in Germany's automotive industry has fallen below 700,000 workers, its lowest level in about two decades, as Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche accelerate global job cuts amid weak Chinese sales, shrinking margins and the costly shift to electric vehicles.
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German Auto Industry Calls for Technology-Neutral Rules on the Shift Away From Combustion Engines
German Science Council Calls for Closer Links Between Universities and Research Institutes
Munich Security Conference Prepares for Diplomacy on Ukraine and Indo-Pacific Tensions
Germany Warns More Grid Flexibility Is Needed to Maintain Power System Stability
Deutsche Bahn Sets Out Major Autumn Overhaul of Germany’s Busiest Rail Routes
Rheinmetall Expands German Artillery Production Capacity
German Parliament Debates Debt Brake Reform and New Infrastructure Investment Funds
Siemens Energy Reports Billion-Euro Profit After Wind Power Restructuring
Germany Expands Border Controls to Combat Smuggling and Irregular Migration
Bundesbank Warns of Weak German Growth and Muted Export Outlook
Volkswagen and IG Metall Begin Difficult Wage Talks Amid Factory Closure Debate
Germany Calls for More Technology Investment to Strengthen Industrial Competitiveness
German Defense Leaders Call for Permanent Increase in Military Spending Beyond Special Fund
German Industry Puts Domestic Investment on Hold as Labor Costs and Social Contributions Rise
BMW Plans Global Job Cuts as Weak Chinese Sales Pressure Margins
Low Rhine Water Threatens German Industry as Drought Disrupts Transport and Power Supplies
Rheinmetall Begins Delivering Artillery Shells From New German Factory
German Economy Sends Mixed Signals as Business Closures Reach Near-Record Levels
German Automotive Employment Falls Below 700,000 as Industry Faces Prolonged Downturn
Eastern Germany Is Becoming a Critical Test of National Political Stability
Defense Spending Is Reshaping Germany’s Industrial Base
Germany’s Energy Policy Is Shifting Toward Industrial Competitiveness
Germany Balances Industrial Decline Risks With High-Tech Investment
Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Raises Concern Among European Health Authorities
A Major Earthquake on Indonesia’s Flores Island Kills at Least 38 People
Germany Sends Emergency Aid and Rescue Teams to Earthquake Zone in Colombia
Chancellor Merz Warns of Growing Threats to Democracy at 65th Anniversary of Berlin Wall Construction
BSW Calls for Non-Partisan Minister-President in Saxony-Anhalt and Challenges Chancellor Merz
Germany’s Political Center Faces a Difficult Test Ahead of Saxony-Anhalt State Election
Germany’s Industrial Energy Strategy Faces Pressure From High Costs and Global Competition
Eurozone Growth Accelerates to 0.5 Percent, Providing Some Support for Germany’s Export Economy
Iran’s Threat to Close Strait of Hormuz Raises Fresh Risks for German Industry and European Inflation
Russia’s Attacks on Ukrainian Infrastructure Increase Pressure on Germany for Air Defense and Reconstruction Aid
Germany’s Hürtgenwald Wildfire Forces Evacuation as Record Fire Spreads Across More Than 300 Hectares
Germany Introduces Tougher Labor Rules for Logistics and Courier Workers
Germany Revises Building Modernization Rules to Give Homeowners More Heating Choices
Germany’s New Full-Day Schoolcare Guarantee Raises Pressure on Cash-Strapped Municipalities
Germany Secures Pension Level at 48 Percent Through 2031 While Expanding Mothers’ Pension
Germany Introduces New Basic Income System as Government Begins Broader Welfare Reform
Germany Expands Pharmacy Services to Include More Vaccinations and Blood Testing
German AI Rules Tighten as Companies Face New Requirements to Label AI-Generated Content
Germany’s Right-to-Repair Rules Will Require Longer Access to Repairs and Spare Parts
EU Packaging Rules Increase Compliance Pressure on German Retailers, Bakeries and Restaurants
Germany’s Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Strategy Seeks to Strengthen Domestic Research and Production
Germany Plans Faster Construction of Railways, Roads and Bridges Under New Infrastructure Law
German Defense Procurement Faces Criticism Over Spending on Older Military Technologies
Rheinmetall Expands Domestic Production of Drones and Cruise Missiles as German Rearmament Accelerates
Foreign Electric-Car Makers Gain Ground in Germany as High Fuel Costs Lift EV Demand
German Automotive Industry Plans Major AI Investment While Cutting About 34,000 Jobs
German Insolvencies Remain Elevated as High Costs and Structural Change Pressure Mittelstand
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