Volkswagen Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn criticised a French government auto sector rescue plan on Saturday as protectionist after German political leaders warned in parliament of a growing threat to free trade.
Winterkorn told Der Spiegel news magazine, in an advance released on Saturday: "No one would be helped - not workers, companies or customers - if the protectionism of France's agriculture policies is now transferred to the car sector." Winterkorn said Europe has benefited tremendously thanks to the free trade of goods and services.
"Anything less than that would be a giant step backwards with fatal consequences," he said. France has angered its partners by announcing a 6 billion euro ($7.8 billion) loan to domestic carmakers Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroen in return for an unwritten pledge not to close French sites.