German auto sector faces unprecedented transformation, industry leaders say

Christian Kraft, head of the Autohaus Eder group in Kirchseeon, told the German Mittelstand economic dialogue that the automotive sector is experiencing its most demanding period ever. He highlighted rapid changes driven by digital giants, the rise of electric vehicles and growing competition from foreign manufacturers such as Chinese firms, noting that customers are increasingly uncertain. Kraft said, “These are the most demanding times the automotive industry has ever faced,” and stressed the importance of local dealers staying close to customers.

At the same time, the Bundestag left‑wing faction Die Linke is organising a national conference in Schweinfurt on 16 June 2026. The event will bring together unions, politicians, industry experts and academics to discuss how the transition to electrification, digitisation and intensified international competition can be managed without mass layoffs and with social justice. Speakers include representatives from Schaeffler, IG Metal and local MP Agnes Conrad, who warned, “The future of the automotive and supplier industry decides not only the competitiveness of a central sector but also hundreds of thousands of jobs and how the ecological overhaul can be socially just.”