Opinion | Germany Is Forgetting How to Make Cars

Here's How Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes Got Stuffy and Lost Sight of What Made Them Great

The New York Times

Once the undisputed kings of the automotive world, German automakers are facing a new reality. Their once-vaunted engineering prowess is being challenged by upstarts from Silicon Valley and China.

In the past, German automakers have been able to rely on their reputation for quality and innovation. But that reputation is starting to fade.

A recent study by the Center for Automotive Research found that German automakers are falling behind in key areas such as electric vehicles and self-driving cars.

The study found that German automakers are investing less in electric vehicles than their competitors. They are also less likely to offer self-driving features on their cars.

As a result, German automakers are losing market share to their competitors. In 2022, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz all lost market share in the United States.

So what's gone wrong? How have German automakers lost their way?

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the decline of German automakers.

One factor is the rise of electric vehicles. German automakers have been slow to embrace electric vehicles. They have been reluctant to invest in the development of electric vehicles because they fear that electric vehicles will cannibalize sales of their gasoline-powered cars.

Another factor is the rise of self-driving cars. German automakers have also been slow to embrace self-driving cars. They have been reluctant to invest in the development of self-driving cars because they fear that self-driving cars will cannibalize sales of their human-driven cars.

Finally, German automakers have become too focused on luxury. They have neglected the mass market in favor of the luxury market.

As a result, German automakers have lost touch with the needs of their customers. They are no longer making the cars that people want to buy.

If German automakers want to regain their former glory, they need to change their ways. They need to start investing in electric vehicles and self-driving cars.

They also need to focus on the mass market. They need to make cars that people want to buy.

If they can do that, they can regain their position as the leaders of the automotive industry.