The European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) has elected Matthias Zink as its new president for a two-year term starting January 2024. Zink, who is the CEO of Automotive Technologies at Schaeffler, succeeds Thorsten Muschal, who has held the position since 2020.
In a statement to CLEPA membership, Zink emphasized the significance of the automotive supply sector in Europe, which represents over 3,000 companies, including multi-nationals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“CLEPA represents […] companies, supplying components and innovative technology for mobility across Europe. As the largest private investor in R&D, with 30 billion EUR ($32.8 billion USD) invested annually, the automotive supply sector is critical to enabling the green and digital transition in Europe. Keeping Europe competitive is a task for policymakers and industry alike,” Zink said. He also expressed his gratitude to his predecessor, Thorsten Muschal, for his four years of successful leadership and looked forward to strengthening the industry’s voice.
Reflecting on his tenure, Muschal noted the achievements and challenges faced by CLEPA, particularly in light of the transition and challenges over the past three years. He said despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, vehicle production has increased, and suppliers have managed to reduce CO2 emissions by utilizing more renewable energy. However, maintaining this positive trajectory requires continued significant investments to meet the goals of the green transition while remaining globally competitive.
Zink addressed the challenges facing the industry, including the need for affordable renewable energy, raw material shortages, insufficient battery production capacity in the EU and the requirements for large infrastructure and grid development. He advocates for a technology-diverse approach and a regulatory framework that is both ambitious and flexible to encourage innovation and maintain Europe’s competitiveness. “At CLEPA, we stand ready to bring technological mobility solutions to market and to actively contribute to shaping policies that foster climate action and support a thriving EU industry,” Zink concluded.
