Mercedes boss Ola Källenius calls for: Germans “have to work more again” | EUROtoday

The heads of DAX corporations hardly ever make political statements, however Mercedes boss Ola Källenius made it significantly clear in a latest interview: The boss of the Stuttgart automotive producer does not suppose the Germans are hard-working sufficient. He warns of an financial decline within the nation – and not directly of the AfD coming to energy.

“Germany has been developing economically in the wrong direction for about 10 to 15 years,” Källenius instructed “Spiegel”. “And if we don’t turn this around, then the populists will come from the right who have no solution for anything. That’s what concerns me, because I live and fight for this country.”

Källenius sees one purpose for the issues within the Germans’ lack of motivation. It’s like saying earlier than a World Cup that we practice sufficient, despite the fact that everybody else trains twice as a lot. Everyone is aware of that this isn’t the way you develop into world champion.

The Mercedes boss criticizes: Germany has “some of the highest labor costs in the world”. For years it was doable to compensate for this with elevated productiveness, however that’s now not sufficient. “We don’t want Asian conditions in Germany, but when it comes to energy, taxes and labor costs we have to move in a direction that makes entrepreneurship and investments in Germany worthwhile.” Otherwise the capital would stream elsewhere.

Källenius criticizes EU rules: “We have to move away from obligations and penalties”

Källenius defended the fitting to part-time work, however with restrictions. “Part-time work for a material reason such as raising children or care is a wonderful instrument; many people have been able to be retained by their employers or brought back into the labor market.” But additionally it is clear that Germans “as a whole will have to work more again,” in any other case “our unique productivity machine will stall even more.”

Källenius additionally known as for a change in fact with a view to European industrial coverage. “We need to move away from obligations and penalties and towards market-based incentives and massive investments in infrastructure,” stated Källenius. Regardless of whether or not it’s about chemical compounds, metal or automobiles, Europe is making “the same methodological mistakes everywhere” and is thus “gradually losing its economic strength.”

With regard to the EU Commission’s deliberate easing of the combustion engine phase-out deliberate for 2035, Källenius stated that it should be acknowledged that “the EU has opened the door to technological openness for the first time.” But the enjoyment about it “vanished very quickly”. “We will not generate growth, but rather shrink the market, as long as we impose regulations on what consumers have to think and want at certain times.” This will probably be mentioned with the European Council and Parliament within the subsequent few months.