Speed limits, 'car-free days' could help Germany overcome energy crisis, says Audi CEO

BERLIN (AA) - The CEO of German automaker Audi has said introducing highway speed limits and "car-free days" could help the country as it faces the energy crisis and effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, according to local media.

"We have to rethink, realize that our lives are changing," Markus Duesmann told the daily Suddeutsche Zeitung, adding that money should no longer be the "only regulator" in the current situation.

Arguing that a return to day-long driving bans that had been introduced to help Germany overcome the oil crisis in the 1970s would not be a problem, Duesmann said: "If it's a Sunday, I'll ride my racing bike across the closed highway."

In the interview, Duesmann admitted that Audi, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, was seeing "early signs" of a decline in orders in Europe.

While the company would not have to lower its forecasts yet, Duesmann said there was "something coming, we can't rule anything out."