"'Made in Germany" not at risk
September 25, 2015
What used to be good and competitive up until now has suddenly turned into junk. The quality of the "Made in Germany" label has been called into question. That's the picture that has been painted by most commentators in unprecedented harmony. But spiteful comments from national and international media are hard to tolerate for many employees in German companies.
That's another impact of VW's emission fraud. But why has German industry as a whole been put under blanket suspicion all of a sudden? Is Germany's overall image at stake? Such a conclusion would be completely ridiculous.
German companies are top global players in many sectors. This may cause some competitors a headache; and some rivals may now be laughing in their sleeve over what VW is going through. What goes up must come down. And in the case of a renowned company the fall from grace can be quite steep. This is more than evident in the current debate.
But the quality and the competitive edge of German products are not to be questioned. Products bearing the "Made in Germany" label are respected and admired around the globe. German companies are world-class players - be it in mechanical and electrical engineering or in automotive and environmental technologies.
Each year more than 60,000 engineers are trained in this country. They work to ensure the competitive edge of the "Made in Germany" high-quality label and the reliability of German products.
Logistics, high-frequency engineering, high-tech plugs and connectors: There are more than 1,300 "hidden champions" in Germany - mid-sized enterprises and global market leaders or firms that rank at least third or higher in their respective sectors. That's quite something, too!
But nobody can afford to rest on their laurels. Volkswagen's emissions scandal has been chipping away at the "Made in Germany“ label - and competitors never sleep. The pace of innovation is picking up worldwide. Being successful today is no guarantee for doing well in the future.
The aftermath of VW's trickery provides a much needed wake-up call for German industry as a whole. Because if companies across the nation are to stay at the very top, they cannot afford to sit back, resting on present-day achievements.