The European Commission is to create a new regulatory category for small electric cars ‘Made in Europe’, announced the cabinet of its Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, on Friday 12 September, following the third strategic dialogue with the European automotive industry.
Two days after the announcement by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of the initiative for affordable small cars (see EUROPE 13706/6), Mr Séjourné set the price of these vehicles at less than €20,000, which will also comply with European CO2 emission standards. It also launched work with the electric battery industry to deploy €1.8 billion in equity investments for future European champions (see EUROPE 13638/27).
Thanks to the forthcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act (see EUROPE 13706/6), he also wants to apply European preference and “local content” for batteries and equipment. The Vice-President also intends to apply conditions to investment by foreign manufacturers and equipment suppliers, particularly Chinese.
Revision of the 2035 target for CO2 emissions. Initially scheduled for 2027 under the directive, this review will be brought forward as soon as possible to give manufacturers greater visibility. In July, the Commission launched a public consultation, which will run until Friday 10 October (see EUROPE 13675/14). “The process requires that we do an thorough impact assessment, and we can then move on to the co-decision process”, said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, spokesperson for the European Commission. The Commission will be looking specifically at vans.
In its press release, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) placed particular emphasis on heavy vehicles, since trucks and buses account for just 3.5% of electric vehicle registrations. “Truck and bus makers are committed to Europe’s green transition: the vehicles are ready, but the enabling conditions are not”, said Christian Levin, CEO of the Traton Group and Scania. ACEA believes that the support framework is lagging behind, particularly in terms of megawatt recharging, and that network capacity and purchase incentives remain underdeveloped.
Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate research and innovation. The Commissioners for Research and Transport, Ekaterina Zaharieva and Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas respectively, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with stakeholders aimed to position Europe as a leader in sustainable and smart mobility by 2035 and beyond. This protocol unites the 2Zero partnership, which focuses on zero-emission road transport, the CCAM partnership on Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility, and the BATT4EU partnership, which concerns innovation in the battery value chain, with its main stakeholders and industry representatives.
The European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA), launched during the strategic dialogue, will serve as a forum for defining a common programme for the industry. The Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen will convene the first meeting at the end of October to launch the work.
To read the Memorandum of Understanding: https://aeur.eu/f/if2
To read the Concept Note: https://aeur.eu/f/if3 (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)