One does not doubt the concern of the German auto industry as it has to navigate the global markets with significant government oversight over its collective heads.  The EU, and to a lesser extent, China are determining the auto industry's allocation of investment capital as well as its product portfolio, which may differ significantly from market, i.e., consumer demands.  The U.S. automakers have greater latitude in determining their product mix and a building according to perceived demands of its customers.  Only time will tell if that is the correct market assessment.  

Two advantages the German automakers have over the new entrants are human capital and financial capital-being able to invest in new product to meet the changing regulatory and consumer environment.  As Intel's co-founder Andy Grove titled his book, "Only the Paranoid Survive."