The new gas emissions targets of the European Union could result in substantial job losses and incalculable social repercussions in Germany, the top official of the country's metalworkers union IG Metall warns.
IG Metall chairman Joerg Hoffmann told dpa that if the carbon dioxide (CO2) limits are to be reached starting from 2030 on, then it would require that nearly half of new cars registered in Germany would have to be electric-powered. But because of the lower depth of production needed for electro-cars in comparison with vehicles with internal combustion engines, one out of every five jobs in Germany's key industry would be in danger.
"We are calculating around 200,000 jobs which will no longer be there as a result of electro-mobility in the industry," Hoffmann said. "This would hit certain regions extremely hard." He cited as examples the Saarland, the city of Emden and rural regions where automotive components suppliers are often the only industrial employers. Such companies would be hit harder than the carmakers themselves. As against the projected job losses, only 30,000 to 40,000 new jobs would be created to make components for electric-powered cars, should they be produced in the country.
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