ADAC's electric mobility stance sparks internal revolt from motorsport club

A motion by a local motorsport club has exposed an internal conflict over the direction of Germany's ADAC automotive association during a general meeting of its Southern Bavaria branch. According to Die Welt, the Scuderia Magra club called for the ADAC to evaluate all types of propulsion systems "without bias" and to "genuinely promote technological openness." The proposal, which criticized what its backers saw as an overly narrow focus on electric mobility, won support from 39 percent—or 2,808 votes—of the members present but fell short of the required majority.

The motion urged the ADAC to prioritize "unprejudiced research" when providing information on vehicle propulsion and to present data impartially—even if the findings contradict political preferences. The Munich-based club also accused the ADAC of failing to sufficiently challenge government-imposed cost increases for drivers in the name of climate protection, alleging it had done so "without substantial objection."

Former Traffic President's Remarks Still Reverberate

The initiative, Die Welt reports, highlights a deeper divide within the ADAC, which counts 22.7 million members: a tug-of-war between advocates of traditional combustion engines and supporters of electric mobility. In justifying its motion, the local club cited statements by former ADAC Traffic President Gerhard Hillebrand, who had backed CO₂ pricing and higher fuel costs.

These positions sparked significant backlash among members, with many viewing them as a betrayal of drivers' interests. The controversy led to a wave of complaints and around 60,000 membership cancellations in January 2026. Hillebrand subsequently resigned as traffic president but remained chair of a regional branch.

Substantively, the local club argues that the ADAC has not leveraged its influence in climate and transport policy effectively enough to represent drivers' concerns. It demands greater reliance on "verifiable facts" and warns against one-sided or alarmist communication with members. The motion also questions the efficacy of national climate protection measures in principle.

"No Reason to Doubt the ADAC's Neutrality"

The board of ADAC Southern Bavaria opposed the motion and defended its stance, asserting there was "no reason to question the ADAC's neutrality and expertise." While rejecting the proposal, it acknowledged that future communication should be clearer—an indirect nod to the criticism.

The ADAC continues to emphasize its commitment to providing neutral information free of ideological bias. The choice of propulsion, its chairman stated, remains an individual decision. The board also dismissed allegations of political partiality, reaffirming the club's role as an independent advisor with no financial stake in the outcomes.