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The situation has steadily deteriorated since 2021, and every second company expects the situation to deteriorate further. However, there is no broad debate about relocation in the industry, since energy costs play a subordinate role for machine builders: the survey found that four out of five companies are not considering relocation. VDMA President Haeusgen found that Scholz’ most important statement was ‘walk the talk’. “If Germany’s speed doesn’t rumble along in first gear, but becomes a high-revving electric motor, we’ll be somewhere completely different in two to three years.”