The “European vehicle”: Choosing sovereignty over dependency 

Ahead of the publication of the Industrial Accelerator Act, CLEPA’s President, Matthias Zink, and Vice-Presidents, Iñigo Laskurain, Jean-Luc di Paola Galloni, Marco Stella, have issued an open letter urging President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Commissioners to support industry in the face of unfair competition. While welcoming global trade, they warn that distortive subsidies, state-backed overcapacity and unilateral tariffs are placing European automotive suppliers at a structural disadvantage.

A clear and ambitious definition of the ‘European vehicle’ is essential to ensure that the value of the mobility transformation remains anchored in Europe.

To bolster industrial resilience and sustain high-quality jobs, CLEPA calls for:

• A 75% local content threshold at the vehicle level for public support, excluding batteries
• Targeted and gradual thresholds for critical technologies such as electric powertrains and electrical & electronic components.

Read the full letter below