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November 19, 2018 by Dr. Maximilian Holland
German Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier gave a hard demonstration to local giants, asking them when they will build electric vehicles "half as sexy as a Tesla".
Photo Olaf Kosinsky / kosinsky.eu (some rights reserved)
Is not the BMW iNEXT Beaver Mouth Sexy enough for Herr Altmaier?
Smack down
As reported by Handelsblatt Minister Altmaier was attending an artificial intelligence event in Berlin this weekend with the CEOs of Daimler and VW when he asked the bosses of the automobile:
"I really wonder when you, Mr. Zetsche, or you, Mr. Diess or Mr. Krüger from BMW, will be able to build an electric car half as sexy as a Tesla. Regarding the attractiveness of your electric cars, you could actually come up with new ideas. "
The CEOs did not answer this question (and BMW Krüger was not himself present). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all. However, VW's boss, Diess, admitted to being behind in the field of artificial intelligence and autonomy, saying: "But we are determined to catch up. The game is not lost yet.
Mr. Zetsche, from Daimler, spoke about the need to strike the right balance between advancing self-reliance and taking a precautionary approach. "What we do not want is a regulation that gives the industry all the freedom they need to get through."
At the same time, Zetsche was ready to consider the future with his crystal ball, predicting that autonomy would install in transportation, commercial vehicles and highways. He predicted that these developments would come before robotaxis. Perhaps he does not ignore that Waymo is already deploying a robotaxi service in Phoenix, Arizona.
Just good friends?
Peter Altmaier has the merit of pushing the lethargic automotive industry to electrify Germany. In April of this year, we reported that he was calling the industry to invest tens of billions of euros in electric vehicles. Then, in August, he asked, "When is our automotive industry, which is so good, will it be able to build a car that travels 50 kilometers further than a Tesla and costs 10,000 euros of less?
Photo Olaf Kosinsky / kosinsky.eu (some rights reserved)
Just a few months ago, Altmaier was back, announcing plans for government support for research and production of battery cells in Germany, worth around 2 billion euros. Altmaier certainly wants to be a good friend of the German electromobility industry, even if he does not find it sexy.
About the author
Dr. Maximilian Holland Max is an anthropologist, social science theorist and international political economist. It strives to ask questions and encourages critical reflection on social and environmental justice, sustainability and the human condition. He has lived and worked in Europe and Asia and currently resides in Barcelona.
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