The European Commission’s Action Plan includes additional funding for battery technology innovation and the rollout of fast chargers for trucks along European highways. Over the next three years, there will also be more flexibility in meeting CO₂ targets, and regulations for developing and testing autonomous vehicles will be eased. The Commission’s plan strongly focuses on innovation, clean mobility, strengthening competitiveness, and reducing bureaucracy.
RAI Association Chairman Frits van Bruggen:
“Action is urgently needed. The demand for new cars and light commercial vehicles is declining. This is bad for the economy and slows down sustainability efforts. Additionally, the sector faces major challenges: high energy costs, labor expenses, and increasing trade barriers.”
He continues:
“The urgency is clear. A lot is at stake, also from a Dutch perspective. The Netherlands plays a leading role as a supplier in battery technology, vehicle software, autonomous driving, and smart mobility solutions. Moreover, the Netherlands develops and manufactures over 30% of all European heavy trucks. Therefore, it is essential that the entire sector benefits from this package. We will closely monitor the further elaboration of the plans, together with our European partners.”
The European automotive industry supports a total of 13.2 million jobs (more than 10% of European employment) and accounts for roughly 7.5% of the European economy (GDP). In the Netherlands, this sector represents 50,000 jobs and an annual turnover of over 40 billion euros.
