Satellites Instead of Cars: Airbus Has Begun Negotiations to Involve Automakers in the Production of Space Technology

Airbus Defence & Space is considering the possibility of utilizing the infrastructure and personnel of the German automotive industry to expand the production of satellites and spacecraft electronics.

Klaus Michel, the company’s managing director, stated this during a panel discussion at a technology conference in Heilbronn, according to the publication Hartpunkt.

According to him, Airbus is currently in talks with representatives of the automotive industry regarding such cooperation.

He noted that the automotive industry has the know-how to scale up production to large volumes, and this expertise can be leveraged.

Factories across Germany are being considered as potential sites, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions where the automotive industry has a strong presence.

For the automotive sector, which is currently in crisis, this would help preserve jobs and utilize production capacity.

Due to the crisis, skilled workers from this sector have been migrating to the defense industry for some time, as reported by several companies.

The need for a sharp increase in production rates may be linked to the Bundeswehr’s plans to invest EUR 35 billion in space security and the creation of large satellite constellations.

At the same time, it is critically important for Berlin to establish a national value chain.

Last year, Militarnyi reported plans by the German defense company KNDS Deutschland to acquire a railcar manufacturing plant in Görlitz and repurpose it to produce armored vehicles.

The need for new production capacity arose due to a significant increase in demand for armored vehicles, both from the German army and from foreign customers.

Automotive giant Volkswagen has also expressed its willingness to consider the possibility of manufacturing equipment for the German armed forces as part of Europe’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities.