A comment from Oliver in Berlin on an article from March 5, 2025 in the New York Times online with the title “Tesla Sales Slump in Europe as Anger Toward Elon Musk Grows.”
“Having worked in marketing for automotive a lot, image is half the hill when you consider high investment purchases like cars. In Germany you think a lot about what your neighbors think. That’s why even ultra rich Germans almost never would buy a Rolls Royce or Bugatti because it sends the ‘wrong’ message about themselves. That said, it’s not just the negative image Tesla has because of Musk. Germans are very detailed and technology obsessed when it comes to cars. And Tesla lost a lot of ground recently while Germany’s car makers not only caught up but even leading in many ways. In design and tech and, definitely in reputation and image. Hard times for Tesla are coming.”
Did you know that these ten important everyday items were actually invented by Germans? From transportation to information technology, Germany made some of the most crucial inventions of our time!
YouTube comments:
“Fritz Haber invented the Haber-Bosch process which converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia needed for fertilizers which aided in feeding millions. Unfortunately, the same process was used in the war effort in WW1.”
“Helmut Gröttrup was not only co-inventor of the smart card, but also an outstanding rocket engineer. During World War II, he worked in the German A4 (aka V-2) rocket program under Wernher von Braun. From 1946 to 1950 he headed a group of 170 German scientists who were forced to work for the Soviet rocketry program under Sergei Korolev.”
Tom Scholz. MIT graduate. Engineer. Focused on his craft. Uninterested in money or fame or music labels. Taught himself how to play the electrical guitar. Scholz. An American. Of German descent.
YouTube comments:
“I was 16 and (fortunately) working at a local record store on release day for the first album. The boss / owner and I unboxed all the new releases and put them on the hit wall before opening. We maybe got 30 copies. I thought the cover was pretty intriguing so cracked the album for some in store play. We stopped what we were doing and listened to the whole album play through just looking at each other in amazement. Still remember what he said: “Every damn song is a hit.” He placed an order for at least 60 more before we even opened the store. The album stayed in play all day and …every customer that came in that morning bought a copy. Never saw anything like it, before or since.”
“I’m 61 and remember hearing “More Than a Feeling” sitting in the back seat of our station wagon while heading to Atlanta from my home in south Georgia. When we got back home a few days later, I gathered my savings from working in the fields and caught a ride with my sister to a local record store. I bought the album and still have it to this day. I was floored after putting it on my dad’s big stereo. I read the back cover over and over as I re-played the album several times straight through some massive earphones. I’ll never forget that glorious day. Thanks, Tom!”
“I’m 64 and I can remember the first time I heard the debut Boston album like it was yesterday. I was 16, in another town playing hockey. My buddy were walking around and saw a cool looking long haired dude setting up 4 house speakers on his lawn. More Than a Feeling started and I was mesmerized. The sound, the guitars, were like nothing I had ever heard. Still get goosebumps from this record. A true masterpiece from a Master.”
“A good friend of mine met Tom when they came through Spokane in ’77 or ’78. My friend was working as a bellhop/waiter at the new Sheraton hotel, Boston was in town for a concert. My buddy knew they were staying at the hotel, and when he delivered room service up to Tom’s room, he brought his copy of that first Boston album up to the room with him. Got all the signatures (as I recall) on the album. I was jealous a bit, but happy for him.”
October 2018. Germany is currently in the driving seat when it comes to innovation – thanks in part to the speed it’s developing new technologies like driverless cars.
In the World Economic Forum’s latest Global Competitiveness Report, Germany came top as the world’s most innovative economy, with a score of 87.5 out of 100 in the Innovation capability pillar – one of the 12 drivers of a country’s productivity.
Deutsche Welle – What sets German homes apart? That’s what Rachel want to find out for this week’s Meet the Germans. From cake forks to tiny homes and BYO kitchens – join her for a snoop around a typical German home.
Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in 2016. As a relative newcomer she casts a fresh eye over German clichés and shares her experiences of settling into German life. Every two weeks she explores a new topic – from unusual bans to meaty cuisine or haunted castles. This week: come on in and make yourself at home with the Germans.
At 0:24 unfortunately a small error has crept in. This house is the famous Rietveld Schröder House and is located in Utrecht in the Netherlands and not in Germany. Sorry for that.
Innovative. Useful. Aesthetic. Understandable. Honest. Unobtrusive. Long lasting. Consequent to the last detail. Environmentally friendly. As little as possible.
“Konsequent bis ins letzte Detail.” Translated as thorough down to the last detail. That’s a lousy translation. Rams says literally consequent/consistent to the last detail. Meaning, integrated in each and every aspect.
As head of design at Braun, the German consumer electronics manufacturer, Dieter Rams (born 1932) emerged as one of the most influential industrial designers of the late 20th century by defining an elegant, legible, yet rigorous visual language for its products.
Rams had Ten Principles of Good Design: Innovative. Usable. Aesthetic. Understandable. Discreet. Honest. Durable. Consistent to the last detail. Environmental. Minimalistic.
Product designer Dieter Rams became famous in the 20th century for his household products. Rams’ credo: “less is more” was a garantee for success. And some fifty years ago he came up with his 10 principles of good design. These guidelines remain valid even to this day.
See Dieter Rams’ famous Schneewittchensarg, in English Snow White’s Coffin. designed when he Rams was only 24 year old, and on the market in 1954. The Schneewittchensarg was considered a revolutionary in design.
“Dieter Rams is one of the most influential industrial designers to ever live. Even if you don’t know who he is, you probably use products that were inspired by his thinking everyday. He wrote the Ten Principles for Good Design, and they’re basically like the design bible. Designers must never question them. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do now.”
The Germans are extremely proud of their bread culture – and pretty scathing about bread from most other countries (don’t get them started on Toastbrot.) Since moving to Germany, Rachel has discovered the delights of fresh German bread from the local bakery.
But there’s still one thing getting between her and a bag of crusty bread rolls. Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in 2016. Back then, as a relative newcomer she casts a fresh eye over German clichés and shares her experiences of settling into German life. Every two weeks she explores a new topic – from unusual bans to meaty cuisine or haunted castles. This week: bread.