The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, argued this Friday that the cars of the future must be more environmentally friendly and made in Europe, stating that she is working with the sector “to make it a reality” at a time of geopolitical tensions.
Ursula von der Leyen chaired this Friday the strategic dialogue on the future of the European automotive industry, which involved sector leaders, social partners, and other stakeholders in Brussels.
The meeting reaffirmed the need to act quickly to implement the Action Plan for the automotive sector, with Ursula von der Leyen promising “to protect European companies against unfair competition, improve access to critical raw materials, and support workers through reskilling.”
In the field of innovation, the European Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with stakeholders to accelerate research and innovation in the automotive sector at the EU level, aiming to position Europe as a leader in sustainable and smart mobility by 2035 and beyond.
The Memorandum of Understanding brings together the 2Zero Partnership (focused on zero-emission road transport), the CCAM Partnership (Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility), and the BATT4EU Partnership (battery value chain innovation) with their key stakeholders and industry representatives, in order to respond to the strategic needs of the automotive sector.
“As technology transforms mobility and geopolitics redefines global competition, there can be no room for the ‘usual’. Together, we will ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of automotive innovation”, concluded Ursula von der Leyen.
This Friday’s dialogue also allowed the European automotive industry, social partners, and other key stakeholders to contribute to the Commission’s upcoming initiatives, including the review of the regulation on performance standards regarding CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, the proposal regarding corporate fleets, regulatory simplification for passenger cars, as well as for light and heavy commercial vehicles.
Participants analyzed the implementation of the action plan, launched in March 2025, and assessed the progress made toward a prosperous European automotive industry and a successful transition to clean mobility.
It should be noted that on Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen said that “the future of cars and the vehicles of the future must be built in Europe,” while speaking in the European Parliament as part of the State of the Union debate in the French city of Strasbourg.
