Driving Against Net Zero
4/28/202627 min
Is defence of the petrol car and liberated motoring becoming the new battleground for Europe’s populist parties? Chris Bowlby visits one of the homes of German car culture and a populist stronghold, Zwickau, to see how motoring is rising up the German agenda. Is Zwickau a foretaste of something affecting all of Germany – a car-loving, car-manufacturing powerhouse in the past, now wondering anxiously what the future holds against the emergence of Chinese electric cars. And less than a hundred miles from Zwickau, just across the border in the Czech Republic, a new coalition government has recently taken power, including ministers from a populist party called Motorists for Themselves – muscular defenders of the old petrol car.
This episode of The Documentary comes to you from Assignment, investigations and journeys into the heart of global events.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsChris Bowlby· Host0:00
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. [soft music] Today's episode is sponsored by SmartTravel, a podcast from NerdWallet. Do you have a friend who treats airfare like a puzzle and somehow always ends up with a first-class upgrade? SmartTravel is like that friend, minus the group texts. NerdWallet's travel journalists break down the pros and cons of travel decisions, like when lounge access is worth paying for and which hotel loyalty programs actually pay off. Make your travel dollars work harder. Follow SmartTravel on your favorite podcast app.
Speaker 10:35
[upbeat music] When you buy LG, you get so much more than just an appliance. You get more done, more cost savings, more peace of mind, and more control because LG appliances are designed to do more, like washers and dryers with AI tech to take out the guesswork, refrigerators that fit in tight spaces and keep food fresher longer, or ranges with precise induction cooking and easy cleanup built in, all with the style you want and reliability you can count on, so you can get more from your home every day. LG appliances, so much more. Make life easier with LG. See the latest models and savings now at lg.com.
Chris Bowlby· Host1:18
[soft music] You're listening to The Documentary from the BBC World Service. I'm Chris Bowlby, this week on assignment in Zwickau in Eastern Germany.