Bosch works council calls for protection from Chinese competition

The works council of the world's largest automotive supplier Bosch is calling on the federal government and the European Union (EU) to provide more protection for European industry from growing competition from China. "We appeal to politicians to do everything possible to protect our jobs and the auto industry in Europe," said works council leader Frank Sell on Wednesday. Chinese car manufacturers are flooding Europe with electric cars that are cheaper because of subsidies and currency policy. Without countermeasures, there is a risk of massive job cuts in the 2030s, after 50,000 jobs have already been lost in 2025 and almost as many will disappear this year.

At Bosch alone, 40,000 employees in Europe still depend on the combustion engine. "If we don't get more air and opportunities to establish other technologies, then it is clear to us that these jobs will be completely lost," warned Sell. Bosch invested in hydrogen propulsion for trucks, but the production facilities remained unused due to a lack of demand. There is great frustration and anger in the companies because, after thousands of jobs have been cut, there is no end to the crisis in sight at Bosch either.

Specifically, the employee representatives, which represent around 74,000 employees at around 40 German locations, are calling for stricter rules of origin to protect European production. According to the draft law on the “Industrial Accelerator Act” presented in March, only electric cars whose contents (excluding batteries) were produced here to 70 percent can receive state funding.

The Bosch works council is now calling for only cars with all parts from Europe to be funded. The federal government should work towards this. The easing of CO₂ fleet regulations, which will soften the ban on combustion engines in 2035, does not go far enough for the works councils. There must be a longer transition period for plug-in hybrids and the option of alternative fuels for cars.

None of this will help “keep the Chinese off our backs for the next 100 years,” but it could give European industry time to adjust, said Sell. "We need this time, otherwise we will be overwhelmed by Chinese products in the next five or six years."

The auto industry needs to develop faster, Sell added. “Everything has to be put to the test – we have to develop a new business model for the European car industry.” Otherwise, social peace would be at stake.

So far, politicians have shown a lot of understanding for the problems, but nothing is happening. The works council boss emphasized that this “hypocrisy” must end. Parties, federal and state governments should finally pull together. “The smelter at the industrial location in Germany is on fire,” added Mario Gutmann, head of the works council at the Bosch Bamberg location. Europe is dealing with autocrats in the USA and China who do not follow the rules and is in danger of losing its prosperity as the only open region of the world. "Those in Brussels have to wake up, otherwise we'll disappear in beauty."