2030 Climate plan: Technology openness holds key to climate neutrality

  • Automotive suppliers are in full support of climate neutrality by 2050
  • Any changes to vehicle targets for 2030 must take form in more comprehensive approach to regulating CO2 emissions
  • Disruption rather than transformation puts jobs and competitiveness at risk

in CLEPA, 16-09-2020


Sigrid de Vries, Secretary General of CLEPA, the association of the Automotive Suppliers’ Industry in Europe comments on today’s presentation by Commission President von der Leyen of the EU climate ambition until 2030:

“The automotive supply industry in Europe is a major force behind the transformation to sustainable, safe, and smart mobility. We support the Paris agreement and strive for a reliable, technology-neutral and ambitious regulatory framework to achieve its objectives.”

“Companies need the adequate conditions to manage the transformation that is unfolding. The magnitude and frequency of changes to these conditions and increasing regulatory interventions are a concern to industry. We are worried that the transformation will turn into a disruption of the sector’s capacity to innovate, invest and maintain employment. The risk of a substantial loss of employment is real. Suppliers are keen on delivering the technology solutions but stress the need for an honest debate about the effects of policy decisions.”

“The existing CO2 targets for vehicles have only been adopted in 2019 after a long and substantial debate. Planning and investment decisions have been taken with confidence in the reliability of the regulatory framework. An increased level of ambition for 2030, if coupled with stricter tailpipe targets for vehicles or possibly a ban on technologies, hampers industry competitiveness, requires massive public investment in infrastructure and makes mobility more expensive for citizens.”

“The Commission has not said much yet in concrete terms about the expansion of recharging and refuelling infrastructure. The programme for one million charging points is by far not enough, it would need to be upgraded along with the programmes in member states. Targets for e-fuels are missing. Already now, the deployment of charging and refuelling infrastructure does not keep pace with market penetration of alternative vehicles. We see many actions, but perhaps not enough strategy.“

“Suppliers have consistently argued for a more comprehensive approach to regulating emissions. In road transport all efficient and low or zero carbon solutions will be necessary and have to be effective in new vehicles but also the existing vehicle fleet. This includes battery electric vehicles, fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and efficient combustion engines, along with the necessary charging infrastructure and availability of renewable energy but also refuelling infrastructure and availability of renewable fuels, e-fuels, and hydrogen. Advanced renewable fuels are key to reducing emissions in the existing fleet and therefore a potentially much more effective lever than the regulation of new vehicles.”

“The economic and health challenges of the past months have reemphasised the role that transport has for society at large. We need to guarantee that the future will provide accessible and affordable mobility for all. Europe should make full use of its strengths, reinforcing its competitiveness, supporting its advanced technology competence and autonomy while securing its high value industrial base and employment. An open dialogue on how to best achieve the climate ambition, supported by a technology neutral and effective regulatory framework that rewards efficiency is necessary.”

 


 

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 30 billion euros yearly in research and development. Automotive suppliers in Europe employ about five million people across the continent.

 

 

Only weeks left to save EU and UK auto sectors from €110 billion ‘no deal’ Brexit disaster

  • EU and UK automotive leaders unite to call for urgent agreement of an ambitious free trade deal before the end of the transition period in just 15 weeks’ time.
  • New calculations show the catastrophic impact of ‘no deal’ with WTO tariffs putting production of some 3 million EU and UK built cars and vans at risk over next five years.
  • ‘No deal’ would mean combined EU-UK trade losses worth up to €110 billion to 2025, on top of around €100 billion in lost production value so far this year because of coronavirus crisis.
  • To avoid second economic hit to sector employing 14.6 million people, industry calls for negotiators to secure a deal urgently that delivers zero tariffs, modern rules of origin and avoids different regulations across the channel.

in CLEPA, 14-09-2020


With just 15 weeks before the Brexit transition period expires, European automotive industry leaders have today joined forces to call for the EU and UK to secure an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) without further delay. Negotiators on both sides must now pull out all the stops to avoid ‘no deal’ at the end of the transition, which according to new calculations would cost the pan-European automotive sector some €110 billion in lost trade over the next five years,putting jobs at risk in a sector that supports 14.6 million livelihoods, representing one in 15 of EU and UK jobs.2

The lead organisations representing vehicle and parts makers across the EU, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA), along with 21 national associations, including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Comité des Constructeurs Français d’Automobiles (CCFA),  La Plateforme automobile (PFA) and the Portuguese Manufacturers Association for the Automotive Industry (AFIA), are today warning that the sector could face severe repercussions. Indeed, economies and jobs on both sides of the channel are at risk of a second devastating hit in the shape of no deal coming on top of around €100 billion worth of production lost so far this year due to the coronavirus crisis.3

Without a deal in place by 31 December, both sides would be forced to trade under so-called World Trade Organisation (WTO) non-preferential rules, including a 10% tariff on cars and up to 22% on vans and trucks.4 Such tariffs – far higher than the small margins of most manufacturers – would almost certainly need to be passed on to consumers, making vehicles more expensive, reducing choice, and impacting demand. Furthermore, automotive suppliers and their products will be hit by tariffs. This will make production more expensive or will lead to more imports of parts from other competitive countries.

Before the coronavirus crisis hit, EU and UK production of motor vehicles was running at 18.5 million units a year. This year some 3.6 million units have already been lost across the sector due to the pandemic. New calculations suggest that, for cars and vans alone, a reduction in demand resulting from a 10% WTO tariff could wipe some three million units from EU and UK factory output over the next five years, with losses worth €52.8 billion to UK plants and €57.7 billion to those based across the EU. Suppliers would also suffer from these changes.

This combined loss in trade value would seriously harm revenues for a sector that is one of Europe’s most valuable assets, employing millions of people and generating shared prosperity for all, with a combined trade surplus of €74 billion with the rest of the world in 2019. Collectively, the EU27 and UK automotive sector is responsible for 20% of global motor vehicle production and spends some €60.9 billion on innovation per year, making it Europe’s largest R&D investor.

Achieving an ambitious EU-UK FTA with automotive-specific provisions is critical to the European automotive industry’s future success. Any deal should include zero tariffs and quotas, appropriate rules of origin for both internal combustion engine and alternatively fuelled vehicles, plus components and powertrains, and a framework to avoid regulatory divergence.

Crucially, businesses need detailed information about the agreed trading conditions they will face from 1 January 2021 to make final preparations. This, combined with targeted support and an appropriate a phase-in period that allows for greater use of foreign materials for a limited period of time, will ensure businesses are able to cope with the end of the transition period.

Eric-Mark Huitema, ACEA Director General, said: “The stakes are high for the EU auto industry – we absolutely must have an ambitious EU-UK trade agreement in place by January. Otherwise our sector – already reeling from the COVID crisis – will be hit hard by a double whammy.”

Sigrid de Vries, CLEPA Secretary General, said: “A ‘no deal’ Brexit would disrupt the integrated automotive supply chain and hit industry at a critical moment. The impact will be felt far beyond the bilateral trade streams alone, translating into a loss of jobs and investment capacity. The automotive sector is the EU’s largest private R&D investor with €60 billion invested each year. We need a deal that maintains the sector’s global competitiveness.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “These figures paint a bleak picture of the devastation that would follow a ‘no deal’ Brexit. The shock of tariffs and other trade barriers would compound the damage already dealt by a global pandemic and recession, putting businesses and livelihoods at risk. Our industries are deeply integrated so we urge all parties to recognise the needs of this vital provider of jobs and economic prosperity, and pull out every single stop to secure an ambitious free trade deal now, before it is too late.”

Hildegard Müller, President of VDA, said: “The automotive industry needs stable and reliable framework conditions. It would be to the great disadvantage of both sides if the UK withdrawal were to end with the application of tariffs in mutual trade. This would jeopardise closely linked value chains and possibly make them unprofitable. Our member companies have more than 100 production sites in the United Kingdom. We hope that the EU and the UK will continue their close partnership – with a comprehensive free trade agreement.”

Thierry Cognet, President of CCFA, said: “A ‘no deal’ situation on 1 January 2021 would be particularly challenging for manufacturers. What we need from negotiators, in an economic context already very affected by the COVID crisis, is a substantial deal protecting us from tariffs, quotas and regulatory divergence.”

José Couto, President of AFIA, said: “The automotive industry needs an agreement that maintains competitiveness and allows companies to continue trading with their UK partners. The UK is the 4th largest customer for automotive components manufactured in Portugal”.

The 23 automotive association signatories include:

  • ACAROM – Romanian Association of Automobile Builders www.acarom.ro
  • ACEA – European Automobile Manufacturers Association www.acea.be
  • ACS – Automotive Cluster of Slovenia www.acs-giz.si/en
  • AFIA – Portuguese Manufacturers Association for the Automotive Industry www.afia.pt
  • AIA – Czech Automotive Industry Association www.autosap.cz
  • ANFIA – Italian Association of the Automobile Industry www.anfia.it
  • AUTIG – Danish Automotive Trade & Industry Federation www.autig.dk
  • BIL SWEDEN – Swedish Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers www.bilsweden.se
  • CCFA – Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers www.ccfa.fr
  • CLEPA – European Association of Automotive Suppliers www.clepa.eu
  • FEBIAC – Belgian Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Industries www.febiac.be
  • FKG – Scandinavian Automotive Supplier Association www.fkg.se
  • FFOE – Austrian Association of the Automotive Industry www.fahrzeugindustrie.at
  • ILEA – Luxembourg Automotive Suppliers Association www.ilea.lu/
  • MGE – Hungarian Vehicle Importers Association www.mge.hu
  • PFA – French Association of the Automotive Industry www.pfa-auto.fr/
  • RAI – Dutch Association for Mobility Industry www.raivereniging.nl
  • SDCM – Polish Association of Automotive Parts Distributors and Producers www.sdcm.pl
  • SERNAUTO – Spanish Association of Automotive Suppliers www.sernauto.es
  • SIMI – Society of the Irish Motor Industry www.simi.ie/en
  • SMMT – Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders www.smmt.co.uk
  • TAYSAD – Automotive Suppliers Association of Turkey www.taysad.org.tr
  • VDA – German Association of the Automotive Industry www.vda.de
  • ZAP – Automotive Industry Association of the Slovak Republic www.zapsr.sk

 


Notes to editors

1: SMMT calculations covering cars and LCVs. Ave FX rate of Aug 2020 of £- € @1.110715. Based on imposition of 10% tariff = 6.3%
price rise = 18.9% drop in demand. Uses average new car and LCV prices based on JATO data.
2: ACEA pocket guide 2020 / 21
3: SMMT & ACEA calculations, IHS Markit LV Production Recovery Tracker (July 2020)
4: UK Global Tariff (10% for cars / vans) & EU Common External Tariff (10-22% dependent on category and tonnage)
5: ACEA pocket guide 2020 / 21 includes cars, vans and HGVs
6: ACEA pocket guide 2020 / 21 (passenger vehicles and LCVs only)
7: SMMT calculations covering cars and LCVs. Ave FX rate of Aug 2020 of £- € @1.110715. Based on imposition of 10% tariff = 6.3%
price rise = 18.9% drop in demand. Uses average new car and LCV prices based on JATO data.
8: ACEA pocket guide 2020 / 21

 

About the EU sector

  • 14.6 million Europeans work in automotive, accounting for 6.7% of all EU jobs.
  • Motor vehicle taxation brings in €440.4 billion for governments in major European markets
  • The automobile industry generates a trade surplus of €74 billion for the EU.
  • The turnover generated by the automotive industry represents over 7% of EU GDP.
  • Investing €60.9 billion in R&D annually, the automotive sector is Europe’s largest private contributor
    to innovation, accounting for 29% of total EU spending
  • EU leads the world when it comes to self-driving vehicles, responsible for more than 30% of all global
    patent applications.

 

About CLEPA

CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, represents over 3.000 companies supplying
state-of-the-art components and innovative technology for safe, smart and sustainable mobility, investing
over 30 billion euros yearly in research and development. Automotive suppliers in Europe directly and
indirectly employ nearly five million people across the continent.