The European automotive industry is going through an area of unprecedented turbulence. At a time when the European Union is accelerating its ecological transition, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced Wednesday before the European Parliament the opening of a strategic dialogue intended to respond to the structural and economic challenges affecting this key sector. Between the objectives of ending thermal vehicles, trade tensions with China and concerns about employment, the stakes are colossal.
2035: the planned end of thermal engines
The European Union has set in stone the objective of ending the marketing of new thermal vehicles by 2035. This ambitious milestone aims to drastically reduce CO2 emissions within the framework of the European Green Deal. However, car manufacturers are warning of a brutal transition, marked by a drop in electric vehicle sales and insufficient investment in charging infrastructure.
THE first financial sanctions will fall as soon as 2025year when CO2 emissions standards will be strengthened. This puts considerable pressure on companies in the sector, which must accelerate their investments in clean technologies while absorbing the costs associated with this transition..
A strategic dialogue to avoid chaos
Faced with these challenges, Ursula von der Leyen is committed to personally leading discussions with all stakeholders in the sector. This strategic dialogue aims to find common solutions to ensure a smooth transition and preserve the millions of jobs that depend on this industry.
« We must design solutions together, because this industry is going through a profound and very disruptive transition. “said von der Leyen.
European car manufacturers, for their part, are demanding emergency aid to cushion the effects of this transformation. In particular, they are asking for subsidies for the development of batteries, charging infrastructure and tax relief schemes for electric vehicles..
The threat of Chinese imports
One of the main points of tension concerns unfair competition from electric vehicles imported from China. These models, massively subsidized by Beijing, directly threaten the competitiveness of European manufacturers.
To respond to this, the European Commission announced the introduction of a surcharge of up to 35% on Chinese electric vehicles, in addition to 10% existing customs taxes. This measure, although welcomed by certain countries such as France and Italy, caused divisions within the Union. Germany, fearing reprisals on its exports to China, strongly opposed it. The repercussions of this transition are already being felt on the job market.
In France, the CGT has sounded the alarm: 200,000 jobs could disappear if accompanying measures are not quickly implemented. This situation risks widening economic inequalities between Member States, with some being better equipped to absorb the shock than others. Ursula von der Leyen stressed the need for a massive training plan to support employees in new electromobility professions. Additionally, she proposed the creation of European funds to support innovation in the sector, although the concrete details of these initiatives remain unclear.
A future to reinvent
The announcement of this strategic dialogue is a step in the right direction, but the challenges remain immense. European manufacturers, already weakened by the pandemic and the energy crisis, must now adapt to a double transition: ecological and economic. The key to success will lie in Brussels' ability to offer a flexible regulatory framework while massively supporting innovation.
For von der Leyen, the message is clear: the automobile industry must embody the European ecological transition, but not at the cost of economic collapse. The challenge is significant, but the future of millions of jobs and European competitiveness depends on it.
