Merkel Allies Step Up Pressure for State Support for Car Sector
- Purchase bonus makes sense for combustion-engine cars: Scheuer
- Merkel to chair talks with executives on auto industry future
A battery pack is secured on a Volkswagen AG e-Golf electric vehicle on the assembly line in Dresden, Germany.
Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Angela Merkel’s Bavarian allies reinforced calls for more government aid for Germany’s struggling auto industry, including a purchasing bonus for less-polluting combustion-engine cars to help weather the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of electric vehicles available is limited and there are combustion-engine models on the market that are relatively clean in terms of air pollution, according to Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer. Merkel is due to chair talks later on Tuesday between government officials, regional leaders and auto executives on the future of the industry.