Running on empty: Whats driving Europes auto industry crisis

Running on empty: Whats driving Europes auto industry crisis explains how Europe’s automakers are facing plant closures and layoffs amid a convergence of energy, policy, and competition pressures. The article cites Porsche as the latest example, saying the company is expected to cut an additional 4,000 jobs after a March report of a 93% drop in operating profits tied to a costly shift away from its long-term EV strategy. It links the broader strain to higher energy costs after the move away from Russian energy, stricter green policies, and disruptions across supply chains, alongside intensified competition from expanding Chinese EV makers. The crisis shows in demand: EU new car registrations in 2025 were nearly 30% below 2019 levels. Germany has lost about 125,000 auto jobs since 2019, while France has seen a roughly one-third employment decline since 2010, and Italy is at risk for thousands more roles.