Commission boosts European automotive industry's global competitiveness
The European automotive sector is at critical turning point, challenged by rapid technological changes and increasing competition. To address the changes ahead, President von der Leyen in January launched a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry, a collaborative and inclusive process designed to tackle the sector's most pressing challenges.
On 5 March, the Commission has put forward an Action Plan, which builds on the Strategic Dialogue, and presents concrete actions that will ensure a robust and sustainable automotive sector and help unleash its innovative power.
Today’s Action Plan is complemented by the Decarbonise Corporate Fleets Communication highlighting best practice examples and encouraging Member States to take further actions to green corporate fleets, which account for around 60% of new car registrations.
Background
Today's Action Plan is the result of an inclusive and collaborative process, which involved multiple discussions and stakeholder engagement initiated through the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry launched by President Ursula Von der Leyen on 30 January 2025. The plan also drew on insights from an open public consultation on the future of the European automotive industry, as well as the work of several Working Groups led by Commissioners Šefčovič, Hoekstra, Séjourné, Virkkunen, Mînzatu and Tzitzikostas.
The following dialogues have been taken place:
- A high-level discussion with President von der Leyen, 30 January 2025 (participants)
- A second meeting with President von der Leyen on 3 March 2025 (participants)
- Clean Transition of the automotive sector – thematic dialogue with Commissioner Hoekstra, 12 February 2025 (participants)
- Industrial Value Chain for the industry – thematic dialogue with Commissioner Séjourné, 19 February 2025 (battery session - participants, suppliers session - participants)
- Technological and Digital Innovation – thematic dialogue with Commissioner Virkkunen, 17 February 2025 (participants)
- Skills and Social considerations within the sector – thematic dialogue with Commissioner Mînzatu,13 February 2025 (participants)
- Roundtable discussion with Commissioner Tzitzikostas, 20 February (participants), and meeting with the Committee of the Regions’ Alliance of Automotive Regions (participants)
For more information
Communication: Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector
Communication: Decarbonising corporate fleets
President von der Leyen Political Guidelines
Factsheet - Action Plan on the future of the automotive sector