https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-germany/prepare-now-for-over-the-cliff-brexit-german-industry-says-idUKKBN1CA0KV
We've often heard predictions that the German govt will be pressured by lobbyists from the auto industry into softening in their stance over Britain and giving us a better exit deal. Can we really be so sure, given that those very lobbyists aren't quite sending supportive signals?
//To prepare for a disruptive British departure from the EU, the BDI said it had set up a task force including major companies, which trains-to-turbines group Siemens (SIEGn.DE) said it was part of.
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“German companies with a presence in Britain and Northern Ireland must now make provisions for the serious case of a very hard exit. Anything else would be naive.”
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Sources told Reuters in September that big players such as Airbus (AIR.PA) and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) were participants.
Siemens, which employs more than 15,000 people in Britain including a wind-power joint venture Siemens Gamesa (SGREN.MC), said it was joining too. “Obviously we’re very interested in this whole endeavour,” a spokesman said.
Germany’s VDA automobile association, which represents major manufacturers such as BMW (BMWG.DE), is also involved, a VDA spokeswoman said. //