Industry & Market Numbers

• Europe's largest automobile market based on production and sales figures (5.5 million passenger vehicles manufactured and 2.9 million registrations in 2010), Source: VDA 2011
• Average manufacturer and supplier turnover of more than EUR 300 billion since 2005
• 30 final assembly plants with a production capacity of over one third of total automobile production in Europe
• 32 percent of all newly registered cars in Europe in 2010 carry the "Made in Germany" seal of quality, Source ACEA 2011
• The German auto industry invested EUR 19.6 billion in R&D in 2010 (a 3.1 percent increase on the previous year), Source: VDA 2011
• 3,650 patents per year (= 10 patents a day) make Germany the uncontested patents world champion, Source: VDA 2011

Smart Mobility

To achieve its objective of being the lead market and provider for electric mobility, Germany is investing heavily in new technology R&D and labor force training and qualification. [...]

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Market | Technological Environment

MARKET - Leading automobile manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, GM (Opel), Iveco, MAN, Neoplan, Porsche, and Volkswagen are based in Germany and manufacturing from a number of manufacturing sites across the country. 

The value chain share guaranteed by auto industry suppliers continues to grow: new drive systems and materials, electronics and networking, energy efficiency in vehicles and production processes are all contributing to create attractive new opportunities for domestic and international technology leaders - while meeting customer expectations, environmental regulations and safety requirements.

TECHNOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT - Germany is the technology leader in all automobile relevant sectors: from mechanical engineering to electronics.

"Germany's automotive workforce - the best experienced worldwide – is responsible for more than a third of total European vehicle production."

Oliver Seiler, Director Mechanical & Electronic Technologies, Germany Trade & Invest

Personnel | R&D

PERSONNEL - Germany is home to the most experienced automobile industry workers in Europe. Our dual education system with parallel on-the-job and vocational school training provides for industry-specific and practice-oriented training. Around 80,000 industry professionals are trained in industry-technical occupations each year.

A highly developed network of universities guarantees the steady flow of fresh academic blood - over 40,000 engineers complete their studies annually. Around 80 universities offer more than 100 technical study programs specifically adapted to the automobile industry. Universities and vocational training institutions work closely with industry together. However, average annual wage growth within the past five years has remained moderate - recording an increase of just 1.13 percent.

R&D - German companies work in close partnership with universities and research institutions. They cooperate in a number of areas including mechatronics, microelectronics, power electronics, telematics, environmental and process engineering, and materials research.

What's the Big Idea? Germany Invests in R&D to Beat the Crisis

German companies made very few cuts to their R&D budgets during the crisis - one reason why they've rebounded from the crisis faster than expected.

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Incentives

Germany provides an array of funding opportunities for international investors. The promotion of research and development (R&D) projects forms a major funding focal point. The federal government has made more than EUR 12 billion in funding available as part of the High-Tech Strategy. Around EUR 200 million is made available for vehicle and traffic technology projects on an annual basis.

The National Electromobility Development Plan includes more than EUR 500 million in incentives for the development of vehicles, energy storage devices and infrastructure. In addition, research and development in the area of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies will benefit from a total of EUR 500 million funding within the framework of a national innovation program.

Physical Infrastructure | Stable Investment Environment

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE - We offer an extensive and comprehensive logistics infrastructure that integrates state-of-the-art transportation networks with the most modern telematics, IT, and telecommunications systems.

STABLE INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT - Social, economic, and political stability provide a solid base for your corporate projects. Our judiciary and civil services are highly professional. Contractual agreements are secure, and intellectual property is strictly protected in Germany.

Downloads & More

Download or order one of our publications for further information, read the latest press releases or simply follow the links we have put together for you.

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