EUCAR - European Council for Automotive R&D

The future of mobility is not just a destination - it is a journey we are shaping together, today. Message from the EUCAR Chair 2025, Dr Nikolai Ardey (link in comment) The future of mobility is unfolding now, bringing transformative changes to how we move people and goods. We are witnessing a historic moment where innovation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, driven by technological advancements, the emergence of new players, and a push for sustainability across all sectors. The rapid integration of innovation into automotive products is now more achievable than ever, thanks to advanced technologies and streamlined processes. Driven by societal megatrends such as climate change, urbanisation, digitalisation, and individualisation, tomorrow’s mobility is being built today, and our industry plays an important role in shaping it. At EUCAR - European Council for Automotive R&D, we are at the heart of this journey, fostering collaboration across industries and sectors to create a mobility ecosystem that is safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible. As a united body of European-based vehicle manufacturers, EUCAR embodies the power of pre-competitive collaboration. Together, we identify key research priorities, engage with our ecosystem, and drive impactful projects with tangible results. We are on the “Way to Zero”: zero fatalities and zero emissions on our roads. We are reshaping vehicle design, production, and usage to meet the needs of a fully sustainable and intelligent mobility ecosystem. The “Way to Zero” is both a challenge and a call to action for our industry and society. With an annual investment of over €60 billion in research and development, our commitment to innovation is clear. Reaching our ambitious goals requires more than financial investment—it demands collaboration, vision, and strategic alignment across all stakeholders. Collaborative research plays a pivotal role in uniting industry, academia, and policymakers, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) are instrumental in translating our vision into impactful R&I agendas, enabling risk-sharing and fostering long-term impact. They enable us to align research and innovation with industrial processes, regulatory frameworks, and standards, ensuring meaningful outcomes that advance the mobility ecosystem. As we look ahead to meeting the demands of this rapidly evolving landscape with the support of upcoming framework programmes, we need a streamlined, agile approach to research and innovation. Simplifying administrative processes, reducing fragmentation, and focusing on large, impactful projects. As this year’s EUCAR Chairman, I invite you to join us as we continue to push boundaries and lead the way toward sustainable, connected, and inclusive mobility. With a “can do” mentality and a focus on industrial leadership, we can deliver value to the industry and society.

Thanks to everyone engaging and promoting research and innovation to strengthen European competitiveness. Collaboration, partnerships and sharing risks are key to tackling the challenges of today and tomorrow. In 2025, let’s continue innovating for a sustainable and digital mobility system and a competitive European industry. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy, prosperous new year.

Software is taking an increasingly important role in vehicle operation. Software defined vehicles (SDV) enable new features, reshaping future mobility with increased cloud integration. The vehicle features are then defined by software and its processing capability. Future vehicles need advanced computing power for many applications related to safety, sustainability, and overall efficiency and performance. These must be provided at reasonable design costs to facilitate innovative ADAS, automated driving functions and plug & charge capabilities. SDV will enable cross-industry collaboration beyond current limitations, with new partnerships and open ecosystems emerging. The innovations through the Digitalisation of Road Transport will have a remarkable economic impact. We drive the development of technologies, functions and services, ensuring safety and mobility for all road users while strengthening the global competitiveness of the automotive industry.

On 4 December 2024, CLEPA - European Association of Automotive Suppliers celebrated its 65th anniversary. The event featured the innovation awards ceremony and annual reception. Suppliers across the automotive value chain submitted their latest innovations. An international expert jury ranked the 12 top innovating companies in the categories Green, Digital and Start-ups. EUCAR, the research and innovation association of automotive manufacturers, supported the event as a strategic partner. https://lnkd.in/dxks-Wrm

"This is the moment of truth for Europe" said Jean-Francois Salessy at the 30-anniversary event of EUCAR. "The road towards carbon neutrality is finally not a walk in the park. It is complex and requires massive investments; it shakes up the overall European industrial eco-system and requires a massive buy-in from end-customers that is not yet visible." EUCAR organised at their "Innovating with Impact Conference" a panel discussion on Societal and Economic Impact. The panellists focused on addressing societal challenges and achieving a positive impact on society, which is only possible when results from innovation reach users and society. https://lnkd.in/daQFxT8h

“Collaboration across industry sectors and between large and small companies to support a strong market for fossil-free transport. We need to inject speed, simplicity and focus in the European Research and Innovation system. We need to act now! “ Highlighted Helene Niklasson, VP, Innovation Ecosystems and Partnerships and Head of CampX at Volvo Group at the EUCAR 30-anniversary event, Innovating with Impact Conference, in the panel discussion on Successful Innovation. https://lnkd.in/dFAcrWQB

EUCAR's 30ᵗʰ anniversary event, 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 highlighted the automotive industry’s critical challenges, from climate change and emissions reduction to global competition and rapid tech evolution. 🌎🚘 Our 𝗩𝗣 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆, Georg List, joined an esteemed panel on Successful Innovation alongside: • Antti Vasara President and CEO at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd • Lutz Eckstein President of VDI e.V. Head of IKA at RWTH Aachen University • Helene Niklasson VP of Innovation Ecosystems and Partnerships, Head of CampX at Volvo Group They discussed how green and digital transformations drive innovation and ways to accelerate user-centered solutions for societal benefit. Drawing from his experience as both Chair of the Business Innovation and Research Working Group at Business Europe and VP of Corporate Strategy at AVL, Georg List shared 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝟮. 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝟰. 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 A big thank you to EUCAR - European Council for Automotive R&D and all the participants for the engaging discussions and valuable exchanges. 🙌 #reimaginingmotion #collaboration #sustainability © Fred Guerdin

EUCAR organised for the 30-anniversary event, Innovating with Impact Conference, a panel discussion on Societal and Economic Impact. The panellists focused on addressing societal challenges and achieving a positive impact on society, which is only possible when results from innovation reach users and society. The panel was opened by Paweł Świeboda, Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Policy Centre, Senior Advisor at FIPRA Public Affairs International, and a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on the Economic and Societal Impact of Research and Innovation. He emphasised that „Innovation, particularly in the mobility and automotive sectors, is not just about advancing technology but also about creating jobs and sustaining economic growth. Ultimately, innovation must serve people, improving their employment and quality of life.“ Pawel was joined in the panel by Raluca Marian, Director, EU Advocacy & General Delegate at IRU and Jean-Francois Salessy, VP, Vehicle Synthesis & Upstream Technologies at Renault Group. https://lnkd.in/d-Vad39r

EUCAR organised for the 30-anniversary event, Innovating with Impact Conference, a panel discussion on Driving Change. The panellists focused on digitalisation and a competitive European industry as drivers of change. How is resilience regarding production, critical value-chains, energy and material demand towards a more circular economy addressed? The panel was opened by Sabine E. Herlitschka, CEO of Infineon Technologies Austria AG, and it focused on the future of European competitiveness. She addressed the main challenges of the automotive industry i.e. competitiveness, decarbonisation, strategic autonomy and security, governance and coordinated approach: “Let‘s not forget our European strength, in collaboration, with coordinated European R&I investments, cooperation and partnerships; and let‘s be bold and think big in terms of making significant, coordinated European Flagship initiatives!“ She was joined in the panel by Peter Dr. Lehnert, VP, Advanced Technologies and Digital Car Innovations, BMW Group research and Marco Massara, EMEA Automotive Business Development Manager, Automotive Industry Business Unit, Amazon Web Services.

EUCAR organised for the 30-anniversary event, Innovating with Impact Conference, a panel discussion on Successful Innovation. The panellists focused on the green and digital transformation in society as an innovation driver and how to accelerate user-oriented innovation to bring benefits to users and society. The panel was opened by Antti Vasara, President & CEO at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, focusing on competitiveness through research, technology and innovation. He called for action to strengthen pan-European collaborations for global leadership with robust and stable R&I investments, maximising the added value for Europe: „We need to increase our ambition as EU for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in strategic sectors rather than reducing it, further aligning R&I with the broader policy goals!“ He was joined in the panel by Lutz Eckstein, President of VDI, Head of IKA at RWTH Aachen University; Georg List, Corporate Strategy at AVL List GmbH, Chair WG R&I at Business Europe; Helene Niklasson VP, Innovation Ecosystems and Partnerships and Head of CampX at Volvo Group. https://lnkd.in/dSaM2aQQ