Kärcher CEO Jenner Warns of Deindustrialization, Calls for Reform Agenda Over Regulation

Hartmut Jenner, chairman of the board of Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG, warns in a guest commentary of Europe's advancing deindustrialization. He cites unpredictable U.S. tariff policy, state-subsidized Chinese competition, high energy and labor costs, and paralyzing regulation as the causes. He describes the 1.3 percent growth expected for Germany in 2026 as borrowed growth, driven by special funds and subsidies. Jenner calls for a fitness program for the location: less bureaucracy, a cap on social security contributions below 40 percent, more incentives for additional work, and a resolute European trade policy. In 2025, Kärcher generated nearly 3.5 billion euros in revenue with 17,000 employees in 87 countries, 86 percent of it abroad.