The energy crisis is forcing Germany to rethink, says Audi boss Markus Duesmann. To get in the mood for saving, he advocates a speed limit and car-free days. He himself would use a fully blocked motorway for sporting activities.
Audi boss Markus Duesmann has shown himself open to measures such as car-free days and speed limits in the current crisis. “In order to get us in Germany better attuned to the situation and the need to save, there could be car-free days again, like in the 1970s,” he told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. A speed limit can also be a helpful symbol.
“We have to rethink, realize that our lives are changing.” Money “as the only regulator” is not enough for the current extraordinary situation. Should there be car-free days, Duesmann would also use them privately, he said: “If it’s a Sunday, I’ll ride my racing bike on the closed highway.”
The car manufacturer Audi, which belongs to the Volkswagen Group, meanwhile sees “first signs” of a decline in orders in Europe. Duesmann told the newspaper that Audi does not have to lower its forecasts yet. “But something is coming our way, we can’t rule anything out,” said Duesmann. This is also discussed in management circles. “I don’t tend to be concerned, but the current situation does concern me.”
Because the corona pandemic, a lack of semiconductors and delays in the supply chains had slowed down car production for a long time, the order books have filled up. The Audi boss said: “At the moment we can’t keep up with production, but how will it look in a year?” A long war worries people, they hold back on purchasing decisions. High inflation could be accompanied by a recession.
“Other brands in the group may be able to produce combustion cars a few years longer than planned if the energy situation remains the same in the coming years,” said Duesmann, who is also a member of the Volkswagen Group Board of Management. As announced, Audi only wants to build combustion engines in China from 2033, otherwise only electric cars. “The price of electricity in Germany and in Europe may have risen now, but we will not adjust our strategy because of that,” said the Audi boss.
