Christian Lindner moves into the automotive industry

Former FDP leader and ex-Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner is moving into the automotive industry. From January 2026, he will be Deputy CEO of Autoland AG, as the company announced. He wants to work where the heart of the German economy beats, Lindner wrote in a Facebook post. "That it is the automotive industry will surprise no one who knows my personal passions."

According to its own statements, Autoland AG is Germany's largest independent automotive retail group. The company employs around 1500 people at over 30 locations. The company headquarters is located in Sandersdorf-Brehna in Saxony-Anhalt. "Christian Lindner is one of the most prominent advocates of individual mobility," argues company founder Wilfried Wilhelm Anclam. With him, Autoland AG will significantly increase its brand awareness.

Waiver of cooling-off period approved

Lindner shared on LinkedIn further: "In addition to my professional focus at Autoland AG, I will also serve on supervisory boards and as an advisor for companies and foundations whose people, topics, and visions inspire me." Lindner did not provide details. The Federal Cabinet had already made decisions in October regarding approvals that were necessary due to Lindner's cooling-off period. Among other things, the 46-year-old will join the shareholder board of the digital HR service provider Stepstone Group, a joint investment of the private equity fund KKR and Axel Springer SE, as an independent member. It had become known from Lindner's circle that he had applied for approvals for this and other mandates.

(mfz)