German Automakers In The Crosshairs As Chinese Momentum Grows

German Automakers In The Crosshairs As Chinese Momentum Grows

European auto sales will rise a bit in 2026. But Chinese sales will accelerate, and Germany, once the unassailable global auto industry leader, is in the crosshairs.

Germany’s Auto Giant Is Losing the Race

Automakers from Germany to Detroit are at a crossroads. Do they produce cars for consumers or for political points? Ford and Volkswagen are finding out what happens when they opt to please the latter at the expense of the former. In its most recent earnings report, Ford registered a hefty $1.33 billion quarterly loss for Q2 of 2026 that was punctuated by a 10 percent decline in year-over-year sales for Q1 and Q2, along with a 4 percent fall in r…