Rheinmetall, a German weapons manufacturer, has surpassed the market capitalization of automotive giant Volkswagen Group, signifying a significant shift in Germany’s economic landscape towards defense over automotive manufacturing. As of Thursday, Rheinmetall’s market value stood at €55.7 billion, surpassing Volkswagen’s €54.4 billion.
This development is notable, given that Rheinmetall’s value has more than tripled since US President Donald Trump took office in January. The rise of European defense companies is largely attributed to Trump’s unpredictable policies, which have raised concerns about the impact on American arms exports. Meanwhile, US-based rival defense companies have seen their share prices decline.
Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-defense-rheinmetall-vw-volkswagen-valuation