Driving Against Net Zero

In Zwickau, eastern Germany—a town with a century-long legacy in motor manufacturing—the transition from petrol-powered cars to electric vehicles has become a flashpoint in Europe’s political and cultural divide. Once a symbol of industrial pride, Zwickau now stands at the crossroads of technological transformation and deep societal anxiety. While the Volkswagen factory has shifted to electric production under Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 'Mobilitätswende,' locals fear that China’s dominance in the EV market could erase Germany’s automotive future. This fear fuels a growing backlash against green policies, with far-right and populist movements like Germany’s AFD and the Czech Republic’s Motorists for Themselves exploiting nostalgia for the petrol car as a symbol of freedom, tradition, and working-class identity. In both countries, climate activism faces intimidation and political marginalization, while leaders like Zwickau’s mayor Constance Arndt warn that without bold investment and innovation, Europe risks losing its car industry entirely—just as it did with textiles and electronics. The episode reveals how the future of mobility is no longer just about technology, but about identity, economic survival, and the struggle for democratic discourse in an age of polarization.