ACEA: ‘EU must help keep the car industry competitive’

The European car industry has been under pressure in recent years, according to the ACEA, due to increasingly strict emission requirements, the transition to a fully electric range and competition from China, among others. According to the ACEA, it is therefore important that policymakers who will soon be in the next European Parliament (there will be elections in June) work on good conditions for the industry and consumers. To achieve this, it uses three fairly broadly explained pillars: supply, production and demand.

It starts with supply. The ACEA wants there to be a sustainable and socially responsible supply of raw materials to the EU, that there will be less administrative burden and that energy prices will be guaranteed at a competitive level. Essential raw materials that are not here must come to the EU through good trade deals with other countries. In car production, the ACEA would like to see it attractive to build small and affordable EVs as well as larger and more expensive ones. Furthermore, there must be more further training in the field for the production of cleaner and ‘smarter’ vehicles, and there must be a strong emphasis on (research into) circular production and the software basis of cars. Finally, sufficient attention must also be paid to self-driving vehicles in production.

That’s all well and good, but is the consumer actually waiting for this? Well, according to the ACEA, it may be necessary to give it a little push here and there. For example, the ACEA emphasizes the importance of a much more detailed charging network in the EU, which is suitable for both small and large (heavy) vehicles. She also expresses her support for subsidy schemes and tax benefits for clean vehicles.

ACEA president Luca de Meo (also CEO of the Renault Group) further emphasizes that the European Union must be well aware of the interests and dangers. After all, the European car industry involves 13 million jobs and some of these may be at risk due to all kinds of complicated internal regulations and, in particular, growing competition from China. De Meo: “The problems we face cut across sectors: automotive, mining, energy, infrastructure and beyond. If you look at our global competitors, you see that they are very good at this. Europe should not just ensuring that we are as well equipped as other regions, it must also ensure that we compete on a level playing field. Competition is very healthy, real competition also means open global markets and free and fair trade rules.”