Safe, sustainable and smart mobility are the main drivers for automotive innovation. To obtain the best possible results for the environment, society and the industry, these driving trends must be addressed in parallel. These issues were to be debated by speakers from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European automotive supply industry, today during the 2017 CLEPA Policy Debate in Brussels.
Automotive suppliers are accelerating innovation in clean and efficient vehicles, passive and active safety, and connected and automated driving.
“The enabling solutions for safe, sustainable and smart mobility are unmistakably and increasingly linked,” said Sigrid de Vries, CLEPA secretary general. “That offers huge opportunities because the trends will support and reinforce each other.”
But it also poses challenges to regulators, who must coordinate their actions more than ever, including at city level, according to CLEPA.
A large variety of technology solutions will be required to meet the ever more diverse mobility needs in a safe, sustainable and smart way. Electrification is a clear trend that automotive suppliers embrace. Efficient and clean combustion engines continue to be an indispensable lever to reduce CO2 emissions from transport. Other technologies, such as thermal management, lightweight solutions and advanced alternative fuels, have a role to play as well, the association believes. Technology neutrality must remain a key EU regulatory principle, going forward, being essential to drive efficiency gains at all fronts, CLEPA says.
Equally, for connected and automated driving, it is now important to have all parties involved – EU institutions, national authorities and industries –teamed up to test technologies, infrastructure and enabling conditions in real-life.
CLEPA members are world leaders in automotive technology. “Our goal is to maintain European technology leadership,” said CLEPA President Roberto Vavassori, member of the management board of Brembo. “Sustaining our economy and prosperity demands higher value-added – whether in services or in manufacturing. And adding value means investing in R&D.”
Vavassori added, “I believe that Europe, in all, has understood that message quite well. But I think more can and should be done, with instruments like Horizon2020. The beauty of collaborative and pre-competitive R&D is not only that the investment risks are spread. Importantly, it creates the eco-system of – sometimes unlikely – partners that are necessary to spur innovation. And by doing that, it helps to keep the center of gravitas where it should be: in Europe.”
This year’s CLEPA Policy Debate focuses on low carbon mobility and connected and automated driving. Violeta Bulc, European commissioner for mobility and transport, delivered the opening keynote speech. The debate was followed by the annual reception. Both events saw more than 200 participants.
