The European Commission has presented its Automotive Industrial Action Plan, within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry. This plan includes a series of key initiatives to support the ecological and digital transition of the automotive sector that the Commission intends to promote in the coming months.
The initiatives are grouped under the so-called flagship actions, which include:
Autonomous driving and connectivity:
- Creation of a European alliance for connected and autonomous vehicles in 2025
- Establishment of large-scale cross-border testbeds for autonomous vehicles starting in 2026.
- Harmonised regulatory framework for automated driving, including standards for testing and deploying across the EU.
Clean mobility:
- Modification of CO₂ emission standards for cars and vans, allowing flexibility in meeting the 2025-2027 targets.
- Launch of an initiative to decarbonise corporate fleets by the end of 2025.
- Investment of 570 million euros in 2025 and 2026 for alternative fuel infrastructure.
- Creation of a European Clean Transport Corridor in the third quarter of 2025.
Competitiveness and resilience of the supply chain:
- Implementation of the Battery Booster package to boost battery production in the EU.
- Exploration of direct support for battery production, combined with state aid.
- Facilitation of joint investments in the supply chain of critical materials.
Jobs and just transition:
- Creation of the European Fair Transition Observatory to analyse employment trends in the automotive industry.
- Amendment of the regulation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to expand its scope and streamline its application in restructuring processes.
Market access and level playing field:
- Evaluation of conditions for foreign investments in the automotive sector, ensuring their added value in the EU.
- Regulatory simplification package to reduce administrative burdens and improve regulatory coherence.