EU vehicle manufacturers back urgent action after ‘strategic dialogue’

Brussels – The European Commission leader and executives of vehicle manufacturers in the region have highlighted a “sense of urgency” in strengthening Europe’s car industry’s global competitiveness.

Several CEOs of light- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers participated in a kick-off "strategy meeting" hosted by Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels 30 Jan.

The talks underscored “Europe’s global competitiveness crisis” amid a slower-than-anticipated market uptake for zero-emission vehicles, reported ACEA* in a statement on the same day.

Furthermore, it added, the lack of "enabling conditions" hinders the region’s progress towards carbon-neutral mobility targets.

While automakers remain committed to zero-emission goals, Mercedes-Benz CEO and ACEA president Ola Kaellenius called for a “market- and demand-driven transformation.”

The upcoming action plan, which is set to be presented on 5 March, “must be built on this premise,” said Kaellenius.

A European Green Deal "reality check", he added, "will not slow us down, but rather propel this transition by removing bottlenecks and introducing necessary flexibilities.”

Christian Levin, CEO of Traton and Scania and chair of ACEA’s commercial vehicle board, said von der Leyen had made it clear that the Commission aimed to cut red tape and accelerate the green transition.

Commercial vehicle makers, he added, back ambitious climate targets but stress that "targets alone are not enough."

“Rapid infrastructure deployment and other enabling conditions, such as total cost of ownership parity and demand-side measures, are essential,” said Levin.

ACEA members also stressed that future meetings “must actively involve all manufacturers and suppliers with substantial industrial footprints in Europe.”

The association will engage with relevant Commissioners on four thematic work strands to provide input into the upcoming action plan.

* The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 16 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault Group, Stellantis, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.