Just how much does Germany's most powerful industry receive in state support? Berlin has released numbers, and the political opposition is not happy.

It is no secret that Germany's powerful carmakers are cozy with the political establishment in Berlin, but now there are numbers to show just how much the industry has received in public largesse over the years.

Over the past decade, German automakers and parts suppliers have received more than €115 billion ($128 billion) in various forms of state assistance, according to a government answer, obtained by Handelsblatt, to an inquiry by the socialist Left Party.

Since 2007, the automobile industry could count on €11.5 billion a year of indirect assistance from Berlin in the form of tax benefits and premiums for the disposal of old cars and the purchase of new cars. The industry has received €1 billion in direct assistance for research and development and €181 million in investment assistance the past ten years.

Daimler, the maker of Mercedes, benefited the most from the R&D and investment assistance, receiving €191 million ($213 million) from 2007 to 2017. Volkswagen, Germany’s largest employer, received €110 million and luxury automaker BMW received €107 million.

In addition, the government also supports the auto industry through procurement. Berlin has spent nearly €800 million on 25,000 vehicles over the past decade. Volkswagen delivered 15,499 vehicles, followed by Daimler with 3,107, Opel with 3,044 and Ford with 1,562.

Herbert Behrens, the Left Party’s transportation expert, said Berlin was serving the short-term interests of the automobile industry. The government has invested billions in the industry, he said. It's return? The diesel emissions scandal.

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Daniel Delhaes reports on politics, transport and airlines from Handelsblatt's Berlin office. To contact the author: [email protected]