“Economist Monika Schnitzer analyzes Viessmann’s multi-billion sale of air-conditioning division in the US”

4/27/2023, 7:03 p.m

Berlin. Economics Monika Schnitzer sees the main reason for the multi-billion sale of the Viessmann air-conditioning division in the United States as a lack of internationalization will on the part of the management. “That could have been avoided if you had expanded yourself earlier,” said the chairwoman of the council of experts for the assessment of the overall economic development of the “world” (Friday edition).

For German companies, the case shows that “early international expansion in Europe and beyond is important for technologies that benefit from large quantities,” says Schnitzer. A fundamental weakness of Germany as a business location cannot be derived from the Viessmann sale. The sale was obviously more attractive than growing globally on your own or merging with other European manufacturers, Schnitzer said. She spoke of a “meaningful answer”.

Suppliers from China, Japan and South Korea could now offer the heat pumps more cheaply due to their experience in air conditioning systems and with large quantities. “You can only counteract this by increasing your own production figures and thereby reducing costs. This is exactly what the sale to the US group is intended to achieve,” said Schnitzer. In any case, consumers would benefit.

“For households planning to install a heat pump, the development is good news because prices will fall,” said Schnitzer.

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