Germany racked up one economic success after another for most of this century. But the loss of Russian natural gas due to the war in Ukraine has dealt a severe blow to its industry through higher energy costs.

For most of this century, Germany racked up one economic success after another, dominating global markets for high-end products like luxury cars and industrial machinery, selling so much to the rest of the world that half the economy ran on exports.

Jobs were plentiful, the government’s financial coffers grew as other European countries drowned in debt, and books were written about what other countries could learn from Germany.

No longer. Now, Germany is the world’s worst-performing major developed economy, with both the International Monetary Fund and European Union expecting it to shrink this year.

  • Gsus4English
    52·
    10 months ago

    Sometimes it is, but even when it isn’t, “taste” by itself is not by itself what is making people stopping themselves from an adequate vehicle.

    This is what I was originally replying to and I think it’s nonsense (regardless of how “refined” your taste is):

    Well if Mercedes and BMW could stop making electric cars as ugly as humanly possible we would quickly see them take that market back.

    • tomi000@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      10 months ago

      Yes it may be an overstatement that Merc and BMW would rule the market if they started making appealing EVs, thats not what you were criticizing about the comment though. What you said was along the lines of ‘why would people not buy cars they dont find appealing’ and that just doesnt make sense.