In Germany, the company that produced the stars for Mercedes went bankrupt. Automaker suppliers are failing to cope with the crisis

In the spring of this year, it almost came to a direct conflict. Unable to bear the consequences of the protracted crisis in the industry, which was already quite clearly superimposed on the energy crisis, the contractors asked the automakers to revise the contracts and the prices set in them. At the same time, someone expected an amicable settlement, someone, such as Mann + Hummel, threatened a sharp stop in supplies. As an intermediary, the Association of German Automobile Manufacturers has tried to settle the dispute, but apparently not very successfully. Businesses were not too willing to make concessions and suppliers, the vast majority of which are small businesses, simply lacked the negotiating power. Moreover, the whole situation turned out to be, in fact, a major force majeure: no one in the industry expected such an increase in energy prices and with it an increase in costs. Only large contractors such as Bosch and Continentalbut what was finally agreed upon and whether it was possible remains unknown.