Trump's 25% Tariff Threat: Will Zwickau's Car Industry Survive? 

Trump’s 25% tariff threat on imported cars has Zwickau, Germany, a city with a 120-year legacy in auto manufacturing, holding its breath. Is this the final straw for the German auto industry, already grappling with high energy costs, competition from China, and a weakening economy? Or will the EU’s promised retaliation be enough to protect this vital sector? Zwickau’s story, with Volkswagen as its lifeblood, mirrors the anxieties of the entire German auto industry. How much longer can traditional automotive hubs like Zwickau withstand these mounting pressures? Could this tariff actually accelerate the shift towards electric vehicles and away from traditional combustion engines, ultimately reshaping the global automotive landscape? What role will automation and AI play in the future of car manufacturing in places like Zwickau, especially in the face of such economic challenges? Let’s discuss the potential ripple effects: job displacement, economic downturn, and the very identity of cities built on the automobile. What's the long-term prognosis for Zwickau and the German auto industry as a whole?