Electric cars are selling poorly, and many German manufacturers are still focusing on the combustion engine. The threat from cheaper Chinese competitors is growing.
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) expects sales to fall by 14 percent this year. No German manufacturer currently has an electric car on the market that costs less than 25,000 euros, and most prices are well over 30,000 euro. The federal government canceled its subsidies for electric car purchases of up to 4,500 euros in mid-December.