Month: January 2020

CLEPA shares the views of the automotive supply industry on the Product Liability Directive during the IMCO Committee public hearing

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The European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection organised today a public hearing to discuss the need to review the Product Liability Directive and related challenges in the new digital age. Frank Schlehuber, Senior Consultant Market Affairs at CLEPA, attended the hearing to present the association’s position on the issue.

in CLEPA, 22-01-2020

It is recognised that most accidents involving vehicles are currently caused by human error, while only a small percentage is credited to technical failures. However, as more autonomous functions start to become present in cars, there is a shift in liability from the driver to the vehicle manufacturers whether they are OEMs or automotive suppliers.

CLEPA supports the need to serve the end-consumer and to provide them with a safe, secure environment and to ensure that a victim of a road traffic accident is compensated in an easy, speedily and efficient manner. However, it is the view of CLEPA that the scope and application should be extended to include all relevant market participants and stakeholders, involved in this new ecosystem.

During the hearing, CLEPA raised four main concerns regarding the need to review the Product Liability Directive, namely the scope of application of its article 1: “The producer shall be liable for damage caused by a defect in his product.”

First, CLEPA believes that the “product” is no longer seen as a physical product, and there should be a new definition that integrates software and other services, as well as recognises that they are dependent on additional data to make them work.

Second, the current definition of “defect” already opens a wide room of flexibility, however there should be a guidance from lawmakers on what is understood under artificial intelligence.

Third, there is a need for an extension on the producer’s definition that includes all players, even to those who modify products.

Lastly, our industry is dependent on R&I and there needs to be a certain freedom during development phase, therefore the exemption to liability during this phase of a product should be maintained and, if possible, reinforced to maintain our industry competitive.

 

The EU-Vietnam FTA Chances for European and Vietnamese business, consumers and workers

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CLEPA supports an ambitious EU trade policy. EU Free Trade Agreements create opportunities for European businesses, contribute to job creation, and enhance global competition and innovation. Vietnam is a fast growing market and a strategic partner, fulfilling a crucial role in global manufacturing supply chains. CLEPA is therefore a member of the EU-Vietnam business coalition to support the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Agreement and calls for a positive vote in the European Parliament’s INTA committee on Tuesday, 21 January

in CLEPA, 20-01-2020

The undersigned business associations respectfully request Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to consider the benefits for both sides and to approve the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

We note that the negotiations on the EU-Vietnam FTA concluded in December 2015, and both European and Vietnamese businesses and consumers have been waiting since then for its ratification and entry into force.

The trade agreement, with its liberalisation of tariffs and deepening of business links, represents a great opportunity for European businesses – granting access to a strong emerging market of close to 100 million people. It also opens the door to partnership, dialogue and cooperation with Vietnam creating stronger ties with the South-East-Asian region and will raise standards for consumers and workers alike. The agreement contains a strong chapter on trade and sustainability, to which the Commission and Vietnam have made a strong commitment to ensure close compliance. Furthermore, the Vietnamese government has made an equally strong commitment to address earlier concerns about workers’ rights and ratify and implement three core ILO conventions. One of these has already been transposed into Vietnamese law, and the Vietnamese government will implement the others shortly, significantly improving the situation of workers in Vietnam.

The EU-Vietnam Business coalition firmly supports the approval of the EU-Vietnam Agreement, and we ask for your support of ratification of this Free Trade Agreement in the INTA committee on Tuesday, 21 January.

 

 

CLEPA PR on Just Transition Fund: Ensure European competitiveness, balance inevitable disruption

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The European Commission has today adopted the regulation creating the Just Transition Fund and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan and presented the proposals to the European Parliament.

in CLEPA, 14-01-2020

“We welcome the launch of the Just Transition Fund and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan. Both have to be seen in conjunction with the ambitions of the European Green Deal towards climate neutrality and mutually reinforce each other,” says Sigrid de Vries, Secretary General of the association of the automotive suppliers’ industry in Europe.

“The automotive suppliers’ industry in Europe is a driving force behind the transformation to sustainable, safe, and smart mobility. We support the Paris agreement and are ready to contribute to a reliable, technology-open, and ambitious regulatory framework to achieve its objectives.

We urge the European legislators to build on Europe’s strengths — the single market, the continent’s advanced technology competence, its high value-add industrial base and global competitiveness — and to provide the supportive regulatory framework and financial support needed to master the monumental tasks unfolding and maintain manufacturing and employment in Europe.

Climate policies must be deeply intertwined with a coherent industrial strategy to strengthen our competitiveness and power to innovate, in order to ensure that the three pillars of the sustainability triangle, i.e. environmental, economic and social policies, are balanced. Such balance is precarious and climate protection needs to condition the strategies towards a sustainable economy as much as the social and economic dimensions should.

The fact that a Just Transition Fund will be needed, is ominous. Hence, only in cases where disruption of industries cannot be avoided, it should serve to balance the impact.

 

Thorsten Muschal (Faurecia) elected new CLEPA President

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The European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) has elected Thorsten Muschal as new President for the term 2020-21, succeeding Roberto Vavassori who held the position since 2016. Mr Muschal is Executive Vice President responsible for Sales and Program Management at Faurecia, the Paris-headquartered multinational. He has been CLEPA vice president for the past 4 years and is well versed into the EU policy dossiers impacting the automotive industry.

in CLEPA, 14-01-2020

“Automotive suppliers are key contributors to change in mobility and industry. Europe must succeed in reaping the industrial benefits of climate and digital leadership, and on this crucial question CLEPA stands ready to help with technology solutions and proposals for policy”, said Mr Muschal. “I warmly thank Roberto Vavassori for his important work over the past years and look forward to working with the CLEPA team on further strengthening the voice of our industry.”

The automotive industry is undergoing the biggest transformation in over a hundred years — to a large part because of the need to decarbonise transport. The other two major trends are assisted & automated driving, and data-fuelled connectivity which enables new mobility types and services. 

“At CLEPA, we are convinced that no-one can master these challenges on their own and we believe in European solutions to find and work together. The urgency to deliver is extremely high”, said Muschal. “For Europe to secure strategic autonomy in the field of ‘new mobility’ which is safe, sustainable and smart, and to compete effectively with other world regions while sustaining high levels of employment and innovation in Europe, there are high levels of investments needed in renewable energy, energy infrastructure, secure and fast connectivity as well as in critical technologies, innovation and skills.” 

“As consumer priorities and ever-stricter emissions regulations transform the automotive industry, CLEPA is committed to working with policymakers and nurturing the business conditions that ensure European suppliers maintain their leading position on the global market. European automotive suppliers are at the forefront of shaping the mobility of the future, and the innovation ecosystem they cultivate and drive, which integrates engineering expertise and leadership in technology and digital transformation, is the backbone of the move towards carbon neutrality and a more sustainable approach to mobility.”  

Automotive suppliers aspire for the future of mobility to be safe, sustainable, smart and competitive. This is the vision CLEPA has laid out in full during the 4th December event Future as we Move – Shaping Solutions of Mobility. More information can be found here.  

 

About Thorsten Muschal 

Thorsten Muschal is Faurecia’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Program Management since 2017. He has held leadership positions at Faurecia in Germany, North America, and France. Thorsten Muschal joined Faurecia in 1992. More information can be found here. 

About CLEPA 

CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers based in Brussels, represents over 3.000 companies, from multi-nationals to SMEs, supplying state-of-the-art components and innovative technology for safe, smart and sustainable mobility, investing over 25 billion euros yearly in research and development. Automotive suppliers in Europe employ about five million people across the continent. 

For more information, please contact the Communications department at communications@clepa.be 

About Faurecia 

Faurecia is the 9th largest international automotive parts manufacturer in the world and #1 for vehicle interiors and emission control technology. One in three automobiles is equipped with their solutions.