Haussmann worked in family business in
Baden-Württemberg until 1979 when he became a member of
the Bundestag in 1976 with
the Free Democratic Party (FDP). He was the secretary-general of the party from 1984 to 1988. On 9 December 1988, he was appointed economy minister, replacing
Martin Bangemann in the post. Haussmann served in the coalition cabinet led by
Helmut Kohl during
the reunification process of West and
East Germany.{{cite news|title=West Germany Creates Committee to Pursue Reunification|work=
Associated Press|date=7 February 1990 Haussmann became an honorary professor and teaching international management at University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in 1996. In 2001, he was made chairman of the advisory board of GEMINI Executive Search.{{cite web|title=Prof. Dr. Helmut Haussmann ==Personal life==