ACEA, the signal of competitiveness for the European car. With Euro 7 prices will rise 22 March 2023 10

In view of this week’s European Council Summit, during which representatives of member countries will discuss various topics, including some of the most important for the economy and industry, ASEAAssociation of European Automobile Manufacturers, once again appeals to the European institutions competitiveness guaranteed automotive sector, which is going through a very difficult moment in connection with the ecological transition.

Speaking at a recent European Parliament hearing, ACEA President and CEO of Renault Group, Luca de Meo stressed the big challenges that the European automotive industry will have to face.

Europe and its automotive industry are at a turning point. The challenges are huge, as is the pressure on the auto industry. European manufacturers face a very asymmetric task today. We are no longer leading the technology race. At the same time, as incentives to buy zero-emission vehicles in the European Union diminish, we are seeing massive support for our competitors in China and the US. All this is happening at a time when Europe’s overall competitiveness is declining.

Thus, for Luca de Meo, the automotive sector is no longer the driving force behind innovation. In addition, the sector is facing increasingly fierce competition from builders from other countries supported by their governments. In these difficult conditions, the association pointing finger at Euro 7 legislation which in recent weeks has also generated a lot of discussion at the political level.

ACEA CEO, Sigrid de Vriesexplained that one of the main problems faced by the automotive sector is there were a lot of laws which the EU has decided to implement. Legitimate legislation, but Europe needs to work better to make the legislation coherent and workable.

One of the major challenges facing the automotive sector in recent years is the sheer number of new regulations ranging from reducing CO2 emissions from exhaust gases to integrating sustainability and due diligence criteria into automotive legislation. While the legitimacy of these initiatives is not questioned and industry is investing heavily to achieve its goals, Europe can and must do more to ensure that legislation is consistent, workable and competitive in a global context.

Thus, the new Euro 7 standard is an excellent example of a regulation that, according to ACEA it will add complexity and uncertainty to key decisions and investments by European automakers without benefiting the environment. According to the association, the current Euro 6 standard, together with the growth in the number of electric vehicles, can provide an 80% reduction in NOx emissions by 2035 compared to 2020.

According to ACEA, the Euro 7 standard will lead to minor improvements at a high price. In fact, it is believed that due to Euro 7 the average price of a car could rise by 2,000 euros. This means that people will be forced to extend the life of their old cars, which will lead to counterproductive environmental and climate impacts.

For Luca de Meo fleet renewal it is the most powerful tool for reducing pollutant emissions. To do this, we must try to speed it up. Thus, additional opportunities must also be taken into account, using the right tools and acting where it makes sense. When it comes to air quality, de Meo points out, we need to work in large urban areas with subsidiarity and proportionality, because that’s where the real problem lies.

Therefore, ACEA declares itself ready to work with European institutions find the best way to meet all climate targets without compromising the competitiveness of the automotive sector.

Our message to EU policy makers is that it is possible to improve air quality, reduce climate impact and remain competitive at the same time. We are ready to work together to find the best ways to achieve these goals.