Merkel Bemoans Lack of EU Expertise in Chips, Batteries

Merkel Bemoans Lack of EU Expertise in Chips, Batteries
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on May 19, 2021. Michele Tantussi/Pool/Reuters
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BERLIN—German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern on Wednesday that Europe cannot make the semiconductor chips and batteries it needs to compete for the production of cars as well as the development of smart appliances.

Merkel told a summit on the future of innovation in Germany that Europe risked falling behind in areas like quantum computing, chips, and batteries, essential for the future of the car industry as it shifts to make more electric vehicles.