Ameer Randolph
While high fuel prices have been a source of frustration for German citizens, it is not true that Germans abandoned their cars en masse in protest. An image that has been circulating online since 2017, depicting a massive traffic jam, is often shared with the claim that it shows a protest in Germany where millions of people abandoned their cars. However, the photo was actually taken in China during a massive traffic jam in 2010 or 2012. While German citizens have protested fuel price hikes, there is no evidence of a mass car abandonment as seen in the viral image.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Germans abandon their cars due to high fuel prices? | No, this is a false claim. |
| Is there any image or incident related to this claim? | Yes, there is an image that has been widely shared on social media since 2017, showing a massive protest where Germans abandoned their cars on the street. |
| Is the image related to the claim? | No, the image is not related to the claim. The image was taken in China during a massive traffic jam in 2010 or 2012. |
| Have German citizens protested fuel price increases? | Yes, German citizens have protested fuel price increases in the past, but there is no record of a mass protest where Germans abandoned their cars. |
| What are the reasons for the decline in car sales in Germany? | Factors include the pandemic, the energy crisis, longer-lasting cars, and the transition to electric cars after the diesel emissions scandal of 2015. |
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What You'll Learn
- Germans have protested fuel price hikes in the past, but they did not abandon their cars en masse
- German car sales are down, due to the transition to electric cars, longer-lasting cars, and weak demand
- The German car industry is in crisis, with factories operating below capacity and car production declining
- German motorists expressed anger at rising fuel taxes, with prices breaking through 1.50 euros per litre
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel encouraged citizens to buy more fuel-efficient cars to save energy
Germans have protested fuel price hikes in the past, but they did not abandon their cars en masse
While German citizens have protested fuel price hikes in the past, the claim that Germans abandoned their cars en masse is false. The story and accompanying image of the supposed protest in Germany were posted on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. The image, however, was taken in Shenzhen, a city in the Chinese province of Guangdong, during a massive traffic jam in 2012. The steering wheels of the cars in the image are on the left side, which is standard practice in continental Chinese provinces.
German motorists have indeed expressed anger at rising fuel prices in the past. In May 2008, German motorists saw the price of a liter of petrol exceed 1.50 euros ($2.30) for the first time, with diesel only marginally cheaper at 1.45 euros. Opposition politicians called for a cut in fuel taxes, and Chancellor Angela Merkel encouraged Germans to buy more fuel-efficient cars. However, opposition leaders stated that this was not enough.
The German automotive industry has also been in crisis in recent years. Car sales across Europe have been declining since 2017, and while they have recovered slightly, they remain 15-20% lower than their peak in 2017. This is partly due to factors such as the pandemic and the energy crisis, but also because cars are lasting longer, and people in Europe already own many cars, so demand has been weak. The transition to electric cars and the diesel emissions scandal of 2015 have also contributed to the industry's decline.
The city of Wolfsburg, home to the Volkswagen factory, has come to symbolize some of the main problems affecting the German car industry. The factory, capable of producing 870,000 cars a year, was only making 490,000 cars by 2023. Car factories across Germany have been operating well below their maximum capacity, with the number of cars produced declining from 5.65 million in 2017 to 4.1 million in 2023. The car industry is a significant source of national pride and wealth for Germany, and the country's economic malaise has had political repercussions.
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German car sales are down, due to the transition to electric cars, longer-lasting cars, and weak demand
While there were claims that Germans abandoned their cars on the highway in protest of high fuel prices, this has been proven false. The photo in question was taken in China during a traffic jam in 2012. However, German car sales have indeed been declining. In January 2025, German passenger car sales were down 2.8% compared to the previous year, with 207,640 new passenger car registrations. This decrease in car sales can be attributed to several factors, including the transition to electric cars, longer-lasting cars, and weak demand.
The transition to electric cars has been a key factor in the decline of German car sales. Since the diesel emissions scandal of 2015, the industry has been undergoing a technological revolution. While electric cars now make up a significant share of all car sales in the EU and the UK, their market share in Germany has not been growing as quickly as anticipated. The sudden removal of subsidies for electric car buyers in late 2023 contributed to a 27% fall in sales of electric cars in the country. This undermined trust among customers and made it difficult for German firms in their home market.
Additionally, cars are now lasting longer, reducing the need for new purchases. The weak demand in the German car market is also due to the general economic situation, which often holds consumers back from making major investments. The pandemic and energy crisis have also played a role in the decline of car sales.
The German car industry has been facing other challenges as well. Mercedes-Benz launched a cost-cutting drive, and Ford announced plans to cut 2,800 jobs in Germany. Volkswagen, the largest carmaker in Europe, has also faced pressures, proposing a 10% pay cut for its workers and reducing production capacity in Germany by 730,000 units and 35,000 jobs.
Despite these challenges, there have been some positive signs. In February 2025, VW increased its new passenger car registrations by 1.7%, and other brands like BMW and Ford also showed growth. Hybrid and electric vehicles are gaining popularity, with electric vehicles surging by 30.8% and hybrid vehicles increasing by 12.0% in February. However, sales of gasoline vehicles continue to drop, falling by 26.2% year-over-year.
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The German car industry is in crisis, with factories operating below capacity and car production declining
It is evident that the German car industry is in the midst of a crisis, with factories operating below capacity and car production witnessing a steady decline. This situation has far-reaching implications, not only for the German economy but also for the country's sense of national pride.
A multitude of factors have contributed to this crisis, including the transition from combustion engines to electric mobility, rising energy prices, and increased competition from Chinese electric car manufacturers. The latter, in particular, has resulted in a significant decline in operating margins for German carmakers. The decision by Volkswagen (VW), a stalwart of the German automotive industry, to consider closing two plants in Germany exemplifies the severity of the situation. This move, aimed at improving productivity and reducing costs, was prompted by intense competition from Chinese electric car makers and the company's failure to effectively adapt to market changes.
The German car industry has also been grappling with high production costs, which are significantly higher than those of their international competitors. This is partly due to the higher energy prices and wages in Germany. As a result, German manufacturers have focused on the premium segment, which limits their access to high-growth markets. Additionally, the industry has been plagued by unclear and contradictory strategies, with companies oscillating between combustion engines and electromobility, leading to resource constraints and weakened innovative strength.
Moreover, the pandemic has played a role in the industry's woes, as car sales across Europe have been on a downward trajectory since 2017. Although there has been a slight recovery, sales remain 15-20% lower than the peak in 2017. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including the extended lifespan of cars, an existing saturation of cars in Europe, and the impact of the pandemic and energy crisis. Furthermore, the diesel emissions scandal of 2015, which involved VW, has accelerated the industry's transition to electric cars, necessitating significant investments in factory rebuilding.
To address this crisis, German car manufacturers must optimize their production processes, reduce dependence on individual export markets, and explore new growth regions. They need to focus on long-term investments in research and development, particularly in software, autonomous driving, and sustainable mobility solutions. While the challenges are significant, they also present opportunities for German manufacturers to secure their position in the market and explore new avenues.
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German motorists expressed anger at rising fuel taxes, with prices breaking through 1.50 euros per litre
German motorists expressed their anger at rising fuel taxes in 2008, as prices broke through the 1.50 euros per litre mark for the first time. While petrol prices hit 1.50 euros per litre, diesel was only marginally cheaper at 1.45 euros.
Newspapers at the time carried graphs showing how the price of petrol had risen sharply since 1998, when it was just 80 cents per litre. By 2005, the price had risen to 1.35 euros per litre, and this continued to climb, breaking through the 1.50 barrier in 2008. The MWV mineral oil association said that 65 cents of the price went to fuel tax, with a further 24 cents taken in value-added tax (VAT).
German drivers have long enjoyed fast cars and no speed limits on highways, but the sharp rise in fuel prices has caused outrage. Many motorists feel that the government is part of the problem, as it has imposed more and more new taxes on fuel in recent years. This includes a so-called ''ecology tax' imposed on fuels and energy in Germany.
While there have been protests over fuel prices in Germany in the past, claims that Germans abandoned their cars on the highway in protest are false. A viral image that has circulated online since 2017, showing a mass of cars abandoned on a highway, was actually taken during a massive traffic jam in China in 2010 or 2012.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel encouraged citizens to buy more fuel-efficient cars to save energy
It is false that Germans abandoned their cars in response to high fuel prices. However, German citizens have protested fuel price increases in the past. In fact, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been nicknamed the "Climate Chancellor" by some. This is due to her deeper knowledge of climate issues compared to other world leaders, according to Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director of Greenpeace International.
However, Merkel's commitment to climate issues has been questioned. For example, in 2013, Merkel blocked an EU plan to limit emissions from new cars. She personally thwarted plans to improve the fuel efficiency of European cars to protect luxury car manufacturers like BMW, Audi, and Daimler. She also questioned the widespread building of gas-fired power plants, expressing concern about the potential impact on gas prices and availability.
Merkel has also been criticized for her support for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which has been criticized for prolonging the use of climate-harmful fossil fuels. In addition, Germany has been reluctant to push for an end to its dependence on coal, despite the use of highly polluting lignite for power production putting Germany's emission reduction targets at risk.
Despite this, Merkel has taken some positive steps towards addressing climate issues. For example, she pledged an additional 220 million euros to poorer countries at the Climate Adaptation Summit. She has also promoted German technology in urging China to make coal power cleaner, encouraging the use of more efficient coal-fired power plants.
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Frequently asked questions
No, this is not true. Since 2017, a viral image has been shared on social media with a caption claiming that it depicts a protest in Germany where Germans abandoned their cars on the street due to high fuel prices. However, the photograph was actually taken in China during a massive traffic jam.
Yes, German citizens have protested fuel price increases in the past. In 2008, German motorists expressed anger at rising fuel prices as the price for a liter of petrol broke through 1.50 euros ($2.30) for the first time. Opposition politicians called for a cut in fuel taxes, and Chancellor Angela Merkel encouraged Germans to buy more fuel-efficient cars.
Car sales across Europe have been declining since 2017 due to various factors such as the pandemic, the energy crisis, and the transition to electric cars following the diesel emissions scandal of 2015. Additionally, cars are lasting longer, and people in Europe already own a lot of cars, leading to weak demand.
