Germany summit 2026 begins
The German summit organized by Handelsblatt and Wirtschaftswoche begins at 9:30 a.m. in Berlin. You can follow the live stream using this link. You can also find the most important interviews, conversations and statements here in the live blog.
Blume: “We are totally determined”
Von Buttlar asks Blume how VW plans to deal with the current challenges in the industry. “It’s about not getting into distress at sea,” says Blume. But it's also about "setting the sails correctly now - making the right decisions for the future. Blume talks about geopolitical challenges as well as new bureaucratic ideas.
When asked about the transformation, the VW CEO says: “We are totally determined.” He adds: “We have to turn over every stone and make a radical transformation now.” This would demand a lot from everyone.
DAX CEOs in conversation with WirtschaftsWoche editor-in-chief Horst von Buttlar
The next panel begins on the stage of the Handelsblatt and WirtschaftsWoche Germany Summit. WirtschaftsWoche editor-in-chief Horst von Buttlar speaks with the four DAX CEOs Oliver Bäte (Allianz SE), Oliver Blume (Volkswagen Group), Jochen Hanebeck (Infineon), Martin Kamieth (BASF) about cooperation between companies and the state in future investments.
Weber: Don't equate the AfD and the Left
“Greetings from the future,” says US-based economist Isabella Weber. She speaks out against equating the electoral successes of the AfD and the Left Party. A nationalistic, anti-democratic AfD is a much bigger problem for Germany than the left, which wants to socialize apartments in Berlin.
Deutsche Bank boss: Left-wing government in Berlin “can become problematic”
Christian Sewing, head of Deutsche Bank, warns of the consequences involving the left and the AfD in German federal states. The bank received many calls about the election results in Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin. A government led by the left “can be problematic,” he says.
What investors particularly valued about Germany was its legal certainty and the strength of its democracy. “If we play with it, it will go away,” says Sewing. Instead, the federal government must stick to its reform course. Politics and business must work together to achieve more growth.
Economist Weber: States must contain dystopian AI scenarios
The economist Isabelle Weber, who teaches in the USA, advocates curbing AI dystopias and fears of the “end of the world” through artificial intelligence (AI) from the state side. As a first step, state institutions could, for example, become independent of the programs of large tech companies. For example, she cannot understand why all authorities and universities still use Microsoft Word and not an independent program.
Anderson: Robo-taxis should be running in every German city by now
As a car country, Germany must not lose its leading role in global industry and should make that a priority, says the Bayer boss. He has a lot to complain about in his hometown of San Francisco, but robo-taxis have long been part of everyday life there. In a year there should be autonomous cars in all major German cities.
Anderson: Germany has not forgotten the culture of debate
The Bayer boss does not believe that societies in Germany and other Western countries have forgotten how to tolerate and discuss different views. What worries him more is that, according to studies, the youngest generation is no more optimistic than their parents and grandparents, says Bill Anderson. Financial stability – “in other words, Germany’s historic mission” – is less important for the satisfaction of young people than the feeling of effectiveness and an important task.
Anderson: Companies have to force employees to make decisions
The Bayer boss is convinced that managers must encourage their employees to make their own decisions and take responsibility. Even those who only did their job “as directed” at work were constantly making important decisions outside of work. The structure of a group must take advantage of this.
A few years ago, Bayer had 17,000 people with management responsibility; today there are around 4,500. This is only possible because more employees act independently.
Anderson: At Bayer there were 1,300 pages of rules
The Bayer boss reports on his mission to transform the chemical and pharmaceutical company and, above all, to abolish bureaucracy. When he took over the leadership in 2023, there were 1,300 pages of rules for him. Instead of rigid bureaucracy, he prefers “ownership” and shared values, says Anderson.
Bayer boss: Germans have developed a “consumer mentality”.
The Bayer CEO attests that the Germans have adopted a “consumer mentality”. A country is not like a restaurant where you can expect good service for money. The citizens themselves are also responsible for the success of a country. You can't rely on the government to sort everything out.
