Germany’s car industry is losing its famous Vorsprung – and it can’t all be blamed on Trump and tariffs | Konstantin Richter

The Germans are now realising they may have lost that special something called Vorsprung durch Technik .

The Germans favour incremental innovation over radical change.

They focus on optimising existing technology rather than creating something new and disruptive.

But the real threat to German excellence did not come from within.

German carmakers are finding themselves in an unusual position in China and some other markets.

They have to play catch-up and they don’t like it.

Some manufacturers are now lobbying for the EU to postpone the 2035 deadline for traditional engines.

Others are desperately hoping that restrictions on permissible CO2 emissions will be adjusted.