CARS 21 - Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st century
As part of the Commission's modern industrial policy, the CARS 21 (Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st century) process, which was launched in 2005, aims to make recommendations for the short-, medium-, and long-term public policy and regulatory framework of the European automotive industry. This framework enhances global competitiveness and employment, while sustaining further progress in safety and environmental performance at a price affordable to the consumer.
CARS 21 High Level Group meeting, 2 December 2011
- CARS 21 HLG Meeting, 2 December 2011
The CARS 21 High Level Group adopted a first set of recommendations for the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the European automotive industry. The report calls for ensuring level playing field for the EU industry worldwide.
The European vehicle industry has impressively recovered from a severe slump in the wake of financial crisis in 2008, in particular by profiting from growth on third markets. But today’s weakened business confidence risks to worsen the good performance of the car industry again. Moreover competition from Asia is likely to put more pressure on EU industry in the years to come.
Therefore, the CARS 21 High Level Group adopted today a first set of recommendations for the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the European automotive industry.
The report calls for ensuring level playing field for the EU industry worldwide. Free Trade Agreements should aim at full tariff dismantling and removal of non-tariff barriers. Moreover, all relevant stakeholders should advocate the introduction of a world wide system for the approval of vehicles in the 1958 UNECE Agreement (which ensures international harmonisation of vehicle regulations).
In addition, the report recommends limiting vehicle noise, a more "real-world driving" measurement procedure for emissions and fuel consumption as well as an appropriate methodology for evaluating the CO2 emissions of heavy-duty vehicles. Member States should better coordinate financial incentives to enable large scale production of clean vehicles. Therefore incentives should be based on objective and commonly available performance data. The group also calls for a portfolio of alternative fuels and the related infrastructure to be deployed.
European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship said: "The success of European vehicle manufacturers in third markets is a role model for other manufacturing services. But we need to ensure that this will continue. Therefore the leadership of EU industry in clean vehicle technologies needs to be secured. Without a strong commitment to continued innovation this will not happen".
For more information, please:
CARS 21 - Re-launch 2010
The CARS 21 High Level Group was re-launched in October 2010.
The re-launched CARS 21 High Level Group met for the first time on 10 November 2010.
- Photo taken at the re-launched CARS 21 High Level Group meeting, 10 November 2010
Further Information
Please consult the
European Commission Press release: Commission re-launches CARS 21 high level group for a competitive and sustainable automotive industry