Volkswagen reportedly considering closure of factories in Germany for the first time in its 87-year history as it fights competition from China’s electric vehicle (EV) makers.
    • loathsome dongeater@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      I would say that is largely irrelevant. Chinese EVs are so much cheaper there is no way Western producers can compete with them barring tariffs. In a level playing field Chinese companies will completely push out the Western ones in low- and mid-range market. For luxury vehicles maybe the brand recognition can save them but in a tight economy cheaper cars will attract a lot of attention.

      • gnutrino@programming.devEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        If only they’d had years to see this coming and multiple people warning them that their EV offerings were absurdly overpriced compared to what China and Tesla were capable of producing…

      • HumanPenguin@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        Yep tuis is the history of cars.

        The UK was the leader in the 50s. Changed to US cars in the 70s. Due to better (more reliable) byild quality and cheaper build standards. Then to japan again more reliable and cheaper.

        China is on cheaper and reliability is catching up. Given priority changes and tech changes. Its ti be wxpected.

  • zante@lemmy.wtfEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    VW have been putting billions in China in various investments and joint ventures