Baden-Württemberg's location in the centre of Europe offers a significant advantage in that it guarantees access to many important markets. Baden-Württemberg enjoys an outstanding national and international reputation in the automotive industry. Baden- Württemberg is the home of car manufacturers and suppliers who have had a decisive influence on the history of the automobile, driving it forward in a way which remains unchanged today.

Car sector in Germany

• In terms of the production and sales of motor vehicles, Germany is the largest car market within Europe.

• Around 5.6 million passenger vehicles were manufactured in Germany in 2008, and around 3.0 million new cars were licenced.

• Manufacturers and suppliers in the car sector in Germany generate an annual turnover of more than 364 billion Euros, accounting for more than 46 % of the total turnover in the sector in Europe (EU-27).

• 30 final assembly plants with production output amounting to more than a third of total car production in Europe are located in Germany.

• Every fifth new car registration in Europe bears the quality mark “Made in Germany”.

• The highly innovative nature of the German automotive sector is underlined by the 1,775 patent applications registered annually for transport technologies. This puts Germany in the no. 1 position – worldwide.