Economy · July 2026

On July 20, 2026, Italian rail operator Italo ordered 26 high-speed trains from Siemens for around 3 billion euros, marking its entry into the German market and positioning itself as a competitor to Deutsche Bahn. The trains are expected to be delivered in the coming years. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany remains in an energy crisis after abandoning Russian gas imports. Volkswagen's crisis may force the sale of Lamborghini and Ducati, and the company faces huge costs even in the best-case scenario. The last German bike helmet maker moved production to China. Zalando reportedly plans more job cuts in Berlin.