The automobile industry has historically been part of the European brand. However, it is in danger and no one doubts that this sector is beginning to suffer a Discarded competition from Asia. At this rhythm, cars of the future that circulate on our highways, autonomous, electric and connected, may not be Mercedes, Citroën or Alfa Romeo, but Chinese.
The commission knows, and is trying to invest the trend with this plan. A protectionist plan that begins by linking the future Acceleration Law on Industrial Decarbonization (LADI) That will be presented this year, to the manufacture in the old continent.
Batteries
The most important part of the electric car is the battery, so the commission puts Special emphasis on battery productionmarket right now completely dominated by China, and announces aid of 1.8 billion in two years to European manufacturers to also investigate how to improve them and make them work with minerals that make us less dependent on those famous rare earths than Europe does not have, and our competitors do.
Supporting the entire value chain of new generation batteries is the only way to avoid energy and strategic dependencies that Europe is not going to be allowed if you want to learn the lessons of the past and be an independent actor.
Speed up the load points
The commission knows that new electric cars are sold, The client has to feel safe as simple as loading them. So it seeks to expedite the bureaucracy on the loading points forcing countries to consider as “absolute priority” the processing of permits in order to make the infrastructure expand faster.
Autonomous car
The car of the future, in addition to electric, will be autonomous. So the development of the regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles with public-private investments of around 1,000 million backed by the Europe Horizon Program during the period 2025-2027. It is about boosting the software and hardware that make autonomous driving possible through an industry alliance so that companies join resources and develop shared software, chips and autonomous driving technology.
Shopping
In addition, the Community Executive urges EU governments to offer Fiscal advantages to promote the purchase of electric vehicles and low emissions With the focus not only in cars, but on business fleets. Measures that visualize an incentive to choose zero emission vehicles against conventional ones. What has not been included in the plan presented today is a specific incentive plan for the purchase of the electric car. There is a commitment to unify criteria between member states because the current uncoordination is confusing in an alleged single market and it is estimated that the best methods of aids throughout the Union must be imposed if it is necessary to reform the rules of state aid to facilitate that these European grants can be combined with national subsidies.
Regarding the repercussions on the use of mobility decarbonizationthe European Transportation Commissioner Apostols Tzitzikostas says that mechanisms will be articulated to comply with workers who lose their work in this transition.
Promotion of foreign investment
All this will cost money so, like Trump, he talks about excluding tariff better conditions for foreign investments in the sector. The objective is to increase the added value of the car industry within the European Union and strengthen its competitiveness against markets such as China and the United States.
All or almost everything announced today by the Community Executive revolves around a basically protectionist idea: Production in European soil must be enhanced. “Made in Europe.”
