Mirbeau's fictional car trip then takes him to Germany, whose industry, cleanliness, and order stand in contrast to what Mirbeau regarded as the slovenliness and laxity of his own countrymen.
In Mirbeau's fictional car journey, he visits Germany, which contrasts with how he viewed the untidiness and lackadaisical nature of his own countrymen in terms of industry, cleanliness, and order.