CulturePublicIn-person

Frank Sieren - 'The Auto Shock. How China Could Overtake Us and What It Means for Our Future'

Name: Frank Sieren - 'The Auto Shock. How China Could Overtake Us and What It Means for Our Future'
Start: 2026-12-09T19:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-09T23:59:00+01:00
Location: Romäusring 1, 78050 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

Romäusring 1, 78050 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
Wed, December 9, 2026 (7:30 pm - 11:59 pm)

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Description

Our car manufacturers are being displaced by China – the most important German industry, decades-long global leader in innovation. The consequence: mass layoffs and profit declines. Frank Sieren, an acclaimed expert on the Chinese economy, describes how it came to be that the market share of all German cars in the Chinese electric vehicle market is below five percent and that most electric cars worldwide now come from China – the world's most important auto growth market. Whether batteries, digital networking, or autonomous driving, the Chinese are now better than us and offer very affordable prices. This is also due to government subsidies, but mainly due to great innovation power. It signifies global shifts in power: the times of Western economic and political dominance are over. Frank Sieren asks: How do we get out of the crisis? Frank Sieren is one of Germany's leading China experts. The journalist, author, and documentary filmmaker has lived in Beijing since 1994 – longer than any other Western economic journalist. He has experienced the rise of the new world power firsthand. Over the past quarter-century, he has worked as a correspondent for Süddeutsche Zeitung, Wirtschaftswoche, Die Zeit, Handelsblatt, Tagesspiegel, Deutsche Welle, and China Table, and more recently for Gabor Steingart's The Pioneer. Sieren has published several bestsellers, including 'Zukunft? China!' and 'Shenzhen'. His latest book, 'China to go', provides an overview of current topics and trends in 100 articles. "His books should be read." Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt

Highlights

Lecture by Frank Sieren, a leading China expert
Analysis of the German automotive industry in the context of China
Discussion of future challenges and solutions

General Information

Frank Sieren sheds light on the challenges faced by the German automotive industry as it is increasingly displaced by China. The lecture takes place in Villingen-Schwenningen and offers insights into China's innovative strength as well as possible ways out of the crisis.