In private messages outside of work, yes, it comes across passive aggressive and is a hard stop to a conversation. In work context though, it’s pretty common on teams as an acknowledgement, though I still think it’s nicer to use like a heart react then actually reply.
It shouldn’t be, but German Auto makers are extremely slow to evolve due to their ridiculous bureaucracy. They’ve had ages to get on top of it and ignored it and they should pay the price for that, but they’re too big to fail for their countries economies. They’re definitely beginning to waver in the face of competition from china, so this comes across as the EU giving them a final respite to really start competing. Then again, could just exacerbate their complacency, we’ll have to see whichever way it goes.