The EU must protect the automotive industry from Chinese competition – Sejourne

According to the European Commissioner, the bloc also lacks strategic thinking in industrial policy

The European Union must protect its automotive industry from Chinese competition, including reassessing its zero-emission target for new cars and vans by 2035. This was stated by Stefan Szejurny, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, according to Reuters.

According to him, the bloc should also consider diversifying its exports and establishing new rules to protect European manufacturing.

“We must be less naive and return to the standards of all major economies in the world. We are the only continent that lacks strategic thinking in industrial policy,” Cezurne said in an interview with Italy’s La Stampa.

The European Commissioner warned that if no action is taken, the number of cars manufactured and sold in Europe will fall from 13 million to 9 million in ten years.

In his opinion, the EU should be flexible about its goal of completely phasing out the production of cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. The bloc is expected to review this policy by the end of this year in response to appeals from car manufacturers.

According to Sejourne, European car manufacturers should turn to new markets for sales, and companies should have less bureaucracy.

The European Commissioner also noted that a kind of “Made in the EU” label is needed to revive industrial production on the continent. The EC is working on this, but it will affect many sectors, including public procurement.

“We need a standard to establish what European steel, European cement, etc. means,” he concluded.

Recall that in October, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) criticized the EC’s new plan to sharply reduce steel import quotas. According to automakers, these measures could have a negative impact on the industry’s competitiveness, as they will lead to increased costs and create additional administrative barriers.