CARS 21 A Competitive Framework for the 21st century
The automotive industry is a major pillar of the European economy, representing 3% of the European GDP and 7% of employment in the manufacturing sector, amounting to twelve millions jobs in total. The automotive industry in Europe is currently characterised by cut-throat price competition, high raw material and energy prices, a strong emphasis on cost management and a restructuring of production processes. In line with its policy to improve the quality of lawmaking and to face the challenges of a more global competition the Commission in 2004 asked the High Level Group CARS 21, which brought together all the main stakeholders (including consumer and environmental organisations), to advise on future policy.
CARS 21: A Roadmap for a Competitive Automotive Industry in the 21st Century
On 7 February 2007 the Commission came forward with a strategy for the long term viability of the European car industry as a Commission's response to the report presented by the CARS 21 Group. Its aim is to keep the manufacturing of motorcars viable on a long term basis, at prices affordable to consumers. The strategy encompasses a variety of areas, such as reduction of administrative burdens, environmental sustainability, road safety, trade and overseas markets and research. It outlines to the European Parliament and Council the direction in which the Commission intends to steer future automotive policy and includes the following elements:
Reduction of administrative burdens:
The Commission will propose replacing 38 EC directives with corresponding global UN/ECE regulations, for instance on tyres, safety glass, fog lamps and seatbelts. In addition, self testing and virtual testing will be introduced for 25 directives and UN/ECE regulations to reduce compliance costs and make administrative procedures less costly and time consuming.
Reduction of CO2 emissions:
The Commission strategy is based on an integrated approach, involving not only engine technology, but also technological improvements (e.g. setting mimimum requirements for air-conditioning systems, the compulsory fitting of tyre pressure monitoring systems, setting maximum tyre rolling resistance limits and the use of gear shift indicators) and increased use of bio-fuels. It also focuses on additional efforts by Member States like traffic management, improvement of driver behaviour and infrastructure as well to further reduce CO2 emissions.
Road safety:
The Commission believes an effective road safety strategy should be based on a combination of improvement in vehicle technology, road infrastructure, driver behaviour and enforcement.
Trade:
The Communication proposes to assess the potential of using bi-lateral trade agreements (particularly in the Asian region) to improve market access and reinforces the need to enforce intellectual property rights globally.
Research and development:
Clean renewable fuels and vehicles and intelligent vehicles and roads have been identified as core research priorities. With approximately 20 billion Euro, about 5% of the industry's turnover, invested into research and product development the automotive industry is the largest R&D investor in Europe in absolute terms. Vice President Verheugen will present the strategy to Ministers which will be followed by an exchange of views.
A mid-term review of CARS 21 is expected for 2009.
CLEPA Contribution to the Consultation of Interested Stakeholders on the CARS 21 Final Report
News - Update
CLEPA congratulates the Commission for the timely organizing the CARS 21 high level group to analyze factors affecting the competitiveness of the automotives sector and subscribes to the recommendations of the report and underlines the joint responsibility of the EU institutions, EU Member States and the private sector to implement them.
Although CLEPA considers that CARS 21 final report has covered most of the relevant issues for this industry, a few topics are missing, such as: transport policy, research & development and education and training. These issues would deserve particular attention in the view of European automotive suppliers and need some concrete recommendations.
Download the complete CLEPA contribution to the EC consultation on the CARS 21 Final Report
Download the CARS 21 Mid-Term Review High Level Conference - Conclusions and Report
CLEPA Press Release on the CARS 21 High Level Conference
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