Merkel to industry: 'Support refugees!'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel used her Thursday visit to the IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt to urge domestic carmakers to intensify their efforts to help as many refugees as possible.

"We are an attractive country," Merkel said. "Many refugees expect us to help them with the integration process."

The Chancellor called on carmakers to provide internships, vocational training and jobs for refugees while thanking companies for the endeavors already undertaken in this direction.

Merkel said she was confident the integration of refugees would be successful in a nation boasting a robust labor market and high employment.

Risky technologies?

In her address to auto makers attending this year's IAA, Merkel also praised the companies' efforts towards autonomous driving, but warned that secure data transmission and data protection were vital issues for consumers.

She told the German VDA auto industry association that she was determined to continue her commitment to free trade agreements with Canada, the US and Japan.

Merkel also touched on the sensitive issue of e-mobility, aware of the fact that the German government's plan to get 1 million e-cars onto German roads by 2020 might not come off in view of lackluster consumer demand.

She told carmakers in the country that Berlin would reach a decision still this year on what additional incentives the government was willing to provide to boost production and demand for electric cars.

hg/tko (Reuters, dpa, epd)