MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Following German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) also visited the IAA auto show in Munich on Thursday. On this occasion, she urged to "reduce dependencies on individual markets".

The German auto industry sells nearly a third of its cars in China and also sources many raw materials and components, such as for batteries, from there. The German auto industry is very reluctant to comment on China's threats to invade the democratic island republic of Taiwan and the possible consequences.

Baerbock said the cards in the automotive market are currently being reshuffled. "This is also an opportunity to learn from old mistakes and reduce dependencies on individual markets and become a leader in climate-neutral mobility. For our country, where the automotive industry accounts for a large part of value creation, this is not only an economic issue, but also a security issue."

At the trade show, the minister visited the VW and Bosch booths, had charging stations explained to her at Siemens, and sat in the Munich automaker's latest vehicle in the presence of BMW CEO Oliver Zipse./rol/DP/mis