Automotive Industries

The European automotive industry is often depicted as “the engine of Europe” because of its economic and social importance and the historical role it has played in the development of the continent. The European automotive industry is a key player in the European Union of the 21st century. It provides direct employment to more than 1.1 million people and supports, directly or indirectly, another 11 to 12 million jobs. It is an essential part of the economic backbone of Europe due to its own contribution to the overall economy and because it generates significant activity for other industries, such as components, electronics, informatics, telecom and logistics. It contributes to the strength and competitiveness of Europe through fiscal revenue, external trade, research and innovation.

Motor vehicles are an indispensable part of the every day lives of most Europeans. The automotive industry has social responsibilities in providing sustainable mobility, improving road safety, and protecting the environment. The contributions of the industry towards furthering these goals depend upon its ability to grow and develop profitably. This in turn requires a fair regulatory framework balancing the requirements of the many parties that have an interest in the automotive industry. 

Major initiatives

The European automotive industry is a leading sector in innovation, which invests 19 billion per year on research. While individual automotive manufacturers carry out research and development (R&D) with the aim to give their own brands and models competitive advantage, a great share of R&D in the sector is carried out collaboratively onpre-competitive common issues of interest where it is clear that joint effort will be time- and resource-effective in delivering common long term benefits.

This research is brought forward under the platform provided by EUCAR, the European Council for Automotive Research and Development, which a number of EU automotive manufacturers established in 1994. Over its life, EUCAR has progressively being shifting its focus and approach towards the areas of greatest challenge to the automotive industry and projects which consider all elements of the road transport system, including the vehicle itself but also the fuel, the infrastructure and the driver. Currently, the bulk of EUCAR’s activity - 19 projects - is in the fields of Safety and Powertrain, but EUCAR constantly examines its priorities to check their fit against the current agendas of stakeholders and society. In line with this, a new project on Mobility has recently been initiated, to examine ways in which R&D can help to reduce congestion by improving traffic circulation. Particular attention will be given by EUCAR to the issue of communication between vehicle and infrastructure and researchers will be looking, as part of this project, to co-operate closely with representatives of system suppliers, traffic managers and technical specialists in communication standards.

The EUCAR research is funded partly by contributions from its members and their research partners, but the majority of resources are supplied by the European Commission through grants under its Framework Programme for Research and Technology. The Commission has already adopted a proposal on the scope of the next 7th Framework Programme, covering the period 2007-2013 and EUCAR made a submission as part of this process, setting out its view of the priorities for research in the road transport sector for this period. For the first time the Programme is set to include a specific programme to be dedicated to Transportation, in which the road transport sector will have a key role. EUCAR is conducting a preliminary analysis of the fit between its current and proposed programmes and the key themes of the forthcoming Framework Programme and looks forward to continuing a constructive dialogue with the Commission.

A new development in the Commission’s proposal for the Framework Programme is the concept of Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) – a more efficient mechanism for realising public/private partnerships at European level. EUCAR and its members are looking closely at the potential for becoming involved in one or more JTIs, particularly in the area of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.

International Cooperation

More recently, EUCAR is bringing attention to international R&D collaborations with emerging markets such as India, Brazil and especially China. Collaborative R&D beyond the borders of Europe will enhance the exchange of knowledge and experience around the globe aiming for progress and innovation of the industry as a whole. This will be beneficial in understanding local market needs and government regulations but also support the global push for advanced technology penetration in emerging markets such as green diesel technologies, alternative fuels (e.g. bio fuels) and the hydrogen economy.