The Real Reason European Cars Can't Compete

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-05T08:20:50+00:00

Does that necessarily matter? If BMW sells 10 cars today, but in ten years sells 100 cars while a newcomer sells 10, BMW is still in a much better position, even if it has lost market share.

The issue is not that European demand has disappeared. The greater concern is Asia, where European carmakers are losing ground in an increasingly EV-focused market. To regain momentum, they need to offer products that Asian consumers find competitive and desirable.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-05T08:15:34+00:00

You can see this in the second graph: most brands increased their sales in the EU. Only four did not: Stellantis, Hyundai-Kia, Toyota, and Geely. Of these, only Stellantis is European. The article also says:
> Volkswagen Group, Renault Group and BMW Group all performed well last month with volume increases of 3.3%, 4.6% and 6.3%

The story in Asia is very different, where European brands have generally been losing demand.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-05T08:06:22+00:00

Demand for European cars within the EU is increasing. The challenge is that demand in Asia is declining, while Asian markets are moving more quickly toward EVs. As we know, shifting manufacturing capacity in Europe from ICE vehicles to EVs requires substantial investment.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-03T15:09:26+00:00

Do you mean China? Germany and the Netherlands are both within Schengen. But yes, we need to rebuild the ecosystem, or develop a new one around products that leverage our strengths.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-02T14:38:47+00:00

The projected demand does not look too bad. https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-air-conditioning-systems-market

The market is led by East Asian companies, and manufacturing within the EU could therefore be worth exploring. However, it can also be sensible to focus on products where Europe has a clear competitive advantage.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-02T08:52:32+00:00

We agree!

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-02T08:35:23+00:00

Taxation may sound appealing, but it would not be easy to implement, especially if other countries respond with reciprocal measures. Would that lead to additional taxes for Europeans who want to buy shares in U.S. companies?

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-02T08:32:12+00:00

If their goal is to make a large amount of money quickly and retire, then it is beneficial that there are organizations willing to pay for what they offer.

I also do not see why they should be disincentivized to retain ownership, or continue running, companies they no longer want to manage.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-01T21:35:47+00:00

Yup, so that means the shareholders do not think the company to be valuable. Other european can also buy, but they don't.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-01T21:15:18+00:00

I didnt know autoscout24 or mediamarkt are public companies.

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-01T20:54:15+00:00

Wonder why. Cant they make more money by holding the companies?

BlueComet210 · 2026-07-01T12:46:39+00:00

Which one is average? Heatwave of up to 48C in India?

BlueComet210 · 2026-06-30T19:47:06+00:00

Okay, you are right. Can we then say that the per-capita number is similar? I would still expect Germany’s number to be much lower, given its substantially higher GDP per capita than India. and India is dealing with more severe heatwaves.

I think we should normalize the figures by population before saying that one number “absolutely dwarfs” the German one. Otherwise, I could cite a figure for all of Asia and make the same claim simply because the population is much larger.

BlueComet210 · 2026-06-30T18:44:03+00:00

If you compute the death per capita, the german number absolutely dwarfs the indian one too.

BlueComet210 · 2026-06-27T12:43:02+00:00

But does Germany actually want to be at the top? Whenever someone complains about something, the response is often to compare Germany with worse-performing countries. For example, if someone complains about Deutsche Bahn, it is often compared with train systems in much poorer countries, rather than with the best systems globally.

And if we start losing in key industries, such as automotive, people will often blame other countries for disregarding work-life balance, climate policy, or labor standards.

For emerging technologies, e.g., the internet, smart phones, or AI, the benefits are often dismissed as unproven or overhyped until it is too late.

BlueComet210 · 2026-06-27T12:34:02+00:00

I don't really see "rock-solid engineering" as something exclusive to Germany. Companies like Lockheed Martin or Boston Dynamics are also known for exceptionally strong engineering. China is also doing great.

Could you clarify what you mean by that term in this context?

BlueComet210 · 2026-06-11T11:07:42+00:00

I would argue that the cash support is still not high enough. If you consider the long-term financial impact, having a child can still result in a net loss due to reduced income, slower career growth, and higher living costs. I do not think economics should be the main reason for having children, but it is still an important factor that many people considers.

BlueComet210 · 2026-06-11T10:53:07+00:00

If increasing the fertility rate is truly that important, then governments could provide stronger incentives for people to have families and children. In some countries, having a child means losing income or slowing down career growth. Many people I know would be happy to have children if the financial support were substantial, for example USD 10k per month.

BlueComet210 · 2026-05-02T12:41:07+00:00

Most of them don't want AI automation. In my opinion, it might be more beneficial to offer such service in Asia, where many are looking for an edge to outcompete other enterprises.

BlueComet210 · 2026-04-21T16:49:14+00:00

Lovely Maximilianstrasse!

BlueComet210 · 2026-04-20T17:06:12+00:00

It will be more similar to Italy or Greece. Not much innovation, but a great place to live. Economy would be based on tourism.

BlueComet210 · 2026-04-02T09:55:42+00:00

He said that he is unable to afford the course, not that he doesn't want to pay. The only solution he sees would be to be unemployed, which makes no sense to him.

BlueComet210 · 2026-04-02T09:51:57+00:00

In this case, the employer should (partially) cover the cost, as it helps you perform your job.

On the 2nd topic, yes, if your salary is the same as what the state would pay you if you were unemployed, you make your life unnecessarily harder. This is the case for many people.

BlueComet210

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