The Acceleration Agenda includes concrete proposals for, among other things, the accelerated rollout of charging infrastructure for heavy transport, hydrogen infrastructure, battery technology, digitalisation, automation, and circular material use. The aim is to anchor the sector’s sustainable transition not only technologically but also economically—thus safeguarding or even expanding tens of thousands of jobs in the Netherlands.
Minister Dirk Beljaarts (Economic Affairs) underlined the importance of an active industrial policy: “With this agenda, we emphasise that collaboration between industry, knowledge institutions and government is essential to maintain our international position. The time for non-commitment is over. A strong industry such as the automotive sector and technology companies is needed to avoid dependencies for our security, for economic growth and to continue innovating here in the Netherlands.”
The agenda is seen as an important contribution to the national industrial strategy and aligns with the European Action Plan for the Automotive Industry.
The meeting was organised on behalf of the sector by RAI Automotive Industry NL. The technical chair of the meeting was Pim Grol (Managing Director RAI Automotive Industry NL). Participants included prominent CEOs and board members from companies such as DAF Trucks, NXP, LeydenJar, Milence, and GetFocus, as well as representatives from Battery Competence Cluster NL (BCC-NL) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Attendees included:
- Dirk Beljaarts, Minister of Economic Affairs
- Harald Seidel, CEO DAF
- Maurice Geraets, Managing Director NXP
- Christian Rood, CEO LeydenJar
- Jard van Ingen, CEO GetFocus
- Anja van Niersen, CEO Milence
- Mustafa Amhaouch, Director BCC-NL
- Pim Grol, Managing Director RAI Automotive Industry NL (Technical Chair)
Listening participants:
- Fries Heinis, Director RAI Vereniging
- Peter Stolk, Chair TKI HTSM
- Theo Henrar, Chair FME
- Leo Kusters, Author NCBP Zero-E Heavy Duty
- Hester Somsen, Ambassador to Germany
- Erwin Nijsse, DG Mobility, Ministry of Economic Affairs
- Serpil Tascioglu, Director TOP, Ministry of Economic Affairs
