VDA boss Mattes stops: top car lobbyist resigns

B ernhard Mattes has informed the presidium and board of the VDA that he will resign from the office of VDA president at the end of 2019 in order to take on new tasks. The Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) announced this briefly on Thursday (September 12th). The announcement was made in the middle of the current IAA. The ex-Ford manager has only been VDA President since March 2018. The VDA is one of the most influential lobby associations in Germany.

As the Manager Magazin reports, Mattes has lost the trust of CEOs from the auto industry. The VDA is selling below value. According to the magazine, critics reproached Mattes for not being closely networked with the decision-makers in Berlin and Brussels. Especially now that politicians are tightening the climate targets, the auto industry needs a stronger voice. Der Spiegel is already acting as the still-EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger as Mattes' successor. Oettinger will remain in office until November.