From Volkswagen plants producing fighting vehicles to Romanian cities eyeing defense contracts, Europe’s struggling car sector may hold the key to closing the military-industrial gaps that Ukraine’s defenders – and Western strategists – have long warned about.
Romania is a country with strong industrial ties to both Germany and France – ties that are especially apparent in its automotive sector. Part of Romania’s economic success story has been its deep integration into European automotive supply chains, alongside IT and aerospace. Beyond the Dacia and Ford factories, Romanian cities are studded with facilities producing components for major car manufacturers. That exposure, however, has become a source of anxiety.
