Suche
Mein Konto
Some people would like to see a crisis like this
Corona has of course also hit the auto industry. However, VW, BMW and Co. are not doing so badly. Now the manufacturers are giving themselves a new coat of paint, but they are all telling the same story. But at least it's quite exciting.
Some people would like to see a crisis like this
In 2020, the auto industry not only had to cope with a slump in sales, but also a fundamental, politically forced transformation process towards e-mobility. As it now turns out, however, we have apparently gotten through this crisis very well. The latest figures from VW and BMW document a significant decline in profits for 2020, but billions in profits were still made even during the epochal crisis. And the transformation measures that have now been announced are also giving companies new growth fantasy.
Stocks soaring
All of this can be seen in the share prices of the companies. BMW shares have already gained 100 percent within a year, meaning they have doubled in value. This means that the price losses suffered in the wake of the Corona shock at the beginning of 2020 have long since been made up for. The situation is similar with the competition; VW shares have already approached their all-time high. And of course it's not for nothing that the courses are where they are. Stock marketers have nothing to give away.
The revolution in vehicle construction arouses desire. More and more added value is being achieved in the software sector, the battery is also becoming a key technology and the car is becoming a data supplier. Completely new business models are emerging, there is plenty of funding and everyone wants a piece of the pie.
Of course, at the end of the day there has to be delivery. And more than just lip service. Because, and this was only recently emphasized here, the strategies that the car giants are now announcing all basically read the same. You could easily save on the PR budget and use synergies: A standard text about the change towards e-mobility, in which the brand names and years are simply exchanged.
Enough of the words
Such technological change is a challenge for the entire industry and one or two could very well be left behind. But it is also an opportunity and, in any case, an extremely exciting time. The words have been exchanged enough, now all these beautiful words must be followed by actions. In other words, you simply have to create products that inspire people. And that can only be achieved if you put your heart and soul into it and don't just develop something new so that you can present something new to the shareholders.
In the meantime, it should be noted that the current crisis in the automotive industry is one that many other industries would wish for. And so, as an observer, I allow myself to smile at the fact that BMW, of all companies, is now making a fool of Greta and wearing a green hat. Speaking of which: What will happen to the M in the company name in the long term? Maybe it needs to be changed to BBW – for Bayerische Batterie Werke. Or in terms of sustainability, even on crap. Which brings us to the Bavarian Mist Car - the name we joked about as children, only today, with all the eco-craze, it would have a positive connotation.