# German automotive industry crisis: strikes, profits and competitiveness > The German automotive industry is going through a multidimensional crisis: IG Metall is threatening warning strikes, around 3,000 Audi employees have walked out, and the future of production sites is in question. Automakers are facing a collapse in profits, sluggish demand, high costs and increased foreign competition, while their technological lag is debated. Difficulties also include falling sales in China and trade tensions with the United States. German press mainly covers social conflicts and national restructurings; French and American articles complement the coverage, with the provided sub-events not detailing their specific angles. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 9 events involving BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and 2 more, in 3 countries (Allemagne, Chine, États-Unis), followed from 31 October 2026 to 4 November 2026. 17 articles from 10 sources (plants, jobs and earnings); last updated on 4 November 2026 at 05:37. Figures reported: 3000 jobs. - Status: ongoing - Scope: International - Category: Plants, jobs and earnings - Countries: Allemagne, Chine, États-Unis - Brands: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Volkswagen Group - First detected: 31 October 2026 at 04:00 - Updated: 4 November 2026 at 05:37 - Web page: https://mecapress.com/stories/164-german-automotive-industry-crisis-strikes-profits-and-competitiveness ## National stories (3) - Germany — 3 country-specific events, 8 articles - France — 0 country-specific event, 2 articles - United States — 0 country-specific event, 2 articles ## Sources by country and language - Germany: 8 articles, 7 outlets - France: 2 articles, 2 outlets - United States: 2 articles, 2 outlets - China: 1 articles, 1 outlets - India: 1 articles, 1 outlets - Italy: 1 articles, 1 outlets - South Korea: 1 articles, 1 outlets - Vietnam: 1 articles, 1 outlets **Languages**: German (8), English (3), French (2), Chinese (1), Italian (1), Korean (1), Japanese (1) ## Timeline (9 events) ### 31 October 2026 — [IG Metall threatens warning strikes from Sunday](https://mecapress.com/events/690-ig-metall-threatens-warning-strikes-from-sunday.md) The IG Metall union is stepping up pressure in the German automotive labor dispute with possible walkouts starting Sunday. 4 sources, 6 articles · Allemagne ### 31 October 2026 — [German automakers continue their decline](https://mecapress.com/events/507-german-automakers-continue-their-decline.md) German automaker figures continue to deteriorate, illustrating the sector's ongoing difficulties in Germany. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne ### 2 November 2026 — [The German automotive crisis and lagging behind in the race for tomorrow's car](https://mecapress.com/events/2652-the-german-automotive-crisis-and-lagging-behind-in-the-race-for-tomorrow-s-car.md) An analysis explains why the German automotive industry is struggling to keep up with the technological race for the car of tomorrow. 2 sources, 2 articles · Allemagne ### 3 November 2026 — [L'industrie automobile allemande confrontée à une accumulation de facteurs négatifs](https://mecapress.com/events/2910-l-industrie-automobile-allemande-confrontee-a-une-accumulation-de-facteurs.md) La presse allemande décrit un secteur automobile confronté simultanément à plusieurs difficultés, entre coûts, demande atone et concurrence étrangère. 2 sources, 2 articles · Allemagne ### 3 November 2026 — [3 000 salariés d'Audi en grève, l'avenir d'une usine allemande en question](https://mecapress.com/events/2984-3-000-salaries-d-audi-en-greve-l-avenir-d-une-usine-allemande-en-question.md) Quelque 3 000 salariés d'Audi se sont mis en grève en Allemagne tandis que l'avenir d'un site de production du constructeur reste incertain. 1 sources, 2 articles · Allemagne ### 3 November 2026 — [Débat sur l'avenir de l'Allemagne comme nation automobile](https://mecapress.com/events/3268-debat-sur-l-avenir-de-l-allemagne-comme-nation-automobile.md) La presse allemande s'interroge sur le déclin de l'industrie automobile nationale, entre pertes de compétitivité et restructurations. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne ### 3 November 2026 — [Les constructeurs allemands cumulent les difficultés sociales, chinoises et américaines](https://mecapress.com/events/3681-les-constructeurs-allemands-cumulent-les-difficultes-sociales-chinoises-et.md) Une analyse revient sur les problèmes d'emploi, la chute des ventes en Chine et les tensions commerciales auxquels font face les constructeurs allemands. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne, Chine, États-Unis ### 3 November 2026 — [Effondrement des profits des constructeurs automobiles en mode crise](https://mecapress.com/events/3465-effondrement-des-profits-des-constructeurs-automobiles-en-mode-crise.md) Les constructeurs automobiles, notamment allemands, voient leurs bénéfices s'effondrer dans un contexte de crise sectorielle. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne ### 4 November 2026 — [La presse allemande décrit la crise des constructeurs automobiles](https://mecapress.com/events/3853-la-presse-allemande-decrit-la-crise-des-constructeurs-automobiles.md) Le Nordbayerischer Kurier consacre sa une à la crise que traversent les constructeurs automobiles allemands, entre coûts, demande atone et restructurations. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne --- Cite as: Mecapress, “German automotive industry crisis: strikes, profits and competitiveness”, https://mecapress.com/stories/164-german-automotive-industry-crisis-strikes-profits-and-competitiveness Methodology: https://mecapress.com/methodology