91 Greeting Dr. Volker Wissing Member of the German Bundestag Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Dear readers, Masterpiece, guarantor of mobility, engine for growth: this is what the car stands for – and with it, the entire automotive industry. This is a success story in which challenges have always been met with smart, innovative ideas. This drive for progress is also helpful now in shaping the change driven by climate action and digitalization. OEMs and suppliers are committed to tackling these tasks: They invest in technologies and reorganize production processes. They develop software and operating systems. They train employees, tap into new value chains and work on sustainable business models. They are also bringing more and more climate-friendly, especially electric vehicles to the market. We help accelerate the ramp-up of electric mobility. That is why we are contributing to a nationwide, demand-based and user-friendly charging infrastructure. Deployment is in full swing. At the same time, there are gaps we must and will bridge. Our overall strategy for this is the Second Charging Infrastructure Masterplan. Around half of the measures it includes have already been fully implemented and we are promoting others. With the ‘Deutschlandnetz’ we are ensuring a fast-charging infrastructure for cars with a total of 9,000 fast-charging points at more than 1,000 locations. The certainty of having a quick and easy way to charge the battery makes the changeover easier. However, high import tariffs for electric vehicles from abroad are not helping. They are damaging, because they lead to higher prices, less competition and consequently to a slower market ramp-up. Rather, we need fair conditions for the best offers and prices. In addition to e-mobility with battery, there are other options like hydrogen and fuel cell technology or renewable fuels such as e-fuels. Each of these technologies must be used in a way that lets us harness and make optimum use of their respective strengths. We create the right framework for this – with balanced, technology neutral regulations, incentives and funding measures. This is why at EU level, I have advocated an e-fuels only vehicle category. This is to give new vehicles with a combustion engine a perspective after 2035 – if they are verifiably powered by e-fuels only. The details are currently the subject of intensive consultations. I expect Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, to make the project a top priority and to work to develop the necessary approval regulations quickly. E-fuels only vehicles also have to be taken into account in the fleet-wide targets in the future. This is what we are working towards and what we are supporting – because we want to enable innovation. The same applies to the digital transformation, which is advancing rapidly, mainly due to the enormous opportunities provided by Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is taking technological advances to the next level. It simplifies many processes, makes them faster, more efficient and less expensive – including in the automotive sector. We want to make use of the opportunities provided by AI. For this reason, we are developing practicable rules and helping to ensure that data – the basis for AI solutions – is widely available. AI also plays a role in automated driving. We are the first country in the world that has developed a regulatory framework for this. It allows the use of autonomous vehicles on normal roads in approved areas. Now it is up to the automotive industry to flesh out this framework by developing use cases and producing the relevant vehicles. A lot is happening around the car, change is in full swing – a change in which policymakers and business are working together. We are joining forces to ensure that the climate-friendly, smart car will play its part in the future mobility mix. The success story isn’t over yet. Yours, Dr Volker Wissing, Member of the German Bundestag Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Dr Volker Wissing, Member of the German Bundestag Image: © Jesco Denzel
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