Germany's focus: pioneers of green mobility!

Germany's focus: pioneers of green mobility!

Zwickau, Deutschland - Electromobility faces numerous challenges and opportunities - especially in Germany. Four of the five largest electric car works in Europe are based here, as the analysis of car fleet shows. This describes the dominance of the German automotive industry in the area of battery -electric vehicles and makes it clear how important this development is for the future.

In 2022, the Tesla plant in Grünheide, which is located near Berlin, achieved an impressive emissions of 216,409 battery cars and thus secured first place in Europe. The VW plant in Zwickau follows in second place with 203,242 vehicles produced. With 176,822 cars from Dingolfing, BMW can book remarkable quantities. The two VW locations in Emden and the French location of Renault in Douai complete the picture.

The challenges of Tesla in Grünheide

The Gigafactory in Grünheide, which was officially opened on March 22, 2022, is Tesla's first European production facility. Despite the positive production figures, the company is faced with considerable critical voices. The focus is on questions of water consumption, environmental pollution and forest flow. The factory currently employs more than 12,000 people, but due to falling sales figures, announced job cuts are in the room. The loss of 14,000 jobs, including 700 in Grünheide, threatens, while the Tesla shares have lost a third of their value this year.

Environmental activists warn that the water requirement of the factory is simply too high. The water consumption of 1.4 million cubic meters per year corresponds to that of a city with 30,000 inhabitants. In view of the drought in Brandenburg, these are worrying numbers. Despite the concerns, Tesla emphasizes that the water requirement is among the contractually approved values. But critics refer to the 26 environmental incidents since the opening, including fire and wastewater problems.

The European e-car market in change

In the larger context, there is a persistent change in the automotive industry in Europe. According to Statista, the market share of battery -electric vehicles accounts for around 14.6 percent in 2023. It is particularly noteworthy that petrol and diesel cars made less than half of the new registrations for the first time. In the same year, the Volkswagen Group secured a market share of 26 percent with new car registrations in the EU.

Norway lists an impressive 82 percent of electric cars in new registrations, while the Netherlands are still at the top of the loading points in Europe. By 2035, the EU is planning to let the approval of new vehicles expire with internal combustion engines, which should further accelerate the switch to electromobility. The need to expand the charging infrastructure is essential, especially in Eastern European countries where progress is slower.

key factors for the future of electromobility

Germany is not only a guide in the production of electric vehicles, but is also the focus of numerous discussions that affect the environment and social aspects of production. The fact that companies such as Tesla and Volkswagen are now facing the challenge of making their production processes both ecologically and socially sustainable shows that a lot is at stake in the race for electromobility. How the situation will develop remains exciting and we keep it up to date with all developments.