EUCAR - European Council for Automotive R&D

The automotive industry is vital for the European economy, jobs, and growth, and it contributes approximately €1 trillion to the EU’s gross domestic product. Nevertheless, the industry is undergoing a drastic transformation, and the US and China are challenging European competitiveness. A sense of urgency exists to safeguard the sector and European prosperity while advancing our climate goals and broader societal objectives. European technology sovereignty needs investments from the public and private actors to keep expertise in Europe and thus strengthen manufacturing, job security, and growth. The Union must put industrial needs and strategies at the centre of translating research and innovation into commercialisation. Investments are crucial to addressing societal challenges while enhancing the EU’s competitiveness and ensuring the quality of life. As leading investors in research and innovation, the EUCAR members see 2025 as the year for bold actions to enhance EU competitiveness and bridge the innovation gap. We must accelerate innovation from applied research to scale-up, prioritise impact and facilitate large-scale innovation initiatives with substantial industrial participation and leadership. The EUCAR members, therefore, commit to building the largest Public-Private R&I Initiative in the Automotive Industry to retain and regain EU competitiveness and close the innovation gap. This initiative will focus on impact, driving EU competitiveness while addressing societal challenges, benefiting users and society.

Over 650 participants registered for the 8th edition of the RTR Conference, which took place from 11 to 13 February at the EGG in Brussels. During the opening and closing sessions, representatives from both industry and the European Commission highlighted how the European research scene is advancing, providing benefits to the environment, economy, and European society as a whole. At the conference, participants learned about the outcomes and anticipated impacts of over 90 EU-funded projects supported by the EU’s flagship funding programmes for research and innovation, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Several EUCAR projects were presented in key areas, such as Green Vehicles, Urban Mobility, Logistics, Intelligent Transport Systems, Safety, and Automated Road Transport. ERTRAC - European Road Transport Research Advisory Council, CCAM Association, 2Zero ,BEPA - Batteries European Partnership Association European Commission CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency https://lnkd.in/dEeS9QTc

Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry launched On 30 January 2025, several CEOs of light- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers participated in a kick-off meeting hosted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to launch the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry. The dialogue aims to design concrete strategies and solutions to support the global competitiveness of automotive manufacturing in Europe, a vital engine for European prosperity, supporting over 13 million direct and indirect jobs and contributing approximately €1 trillion to our gross domestic product. As leading investors in research and innovation, the EUCAR members see 2025 as the year for bold actions to enhance EU competitiveness and bridge the innovation gap. We must prioritise impact and facilitate large-scale innovation initiatives with substantial industrial participation: speed, simplicity, and agility – fit for a rapidly evolving and globally competitive environment. The EU Action Plan will address a broad range of issues relevant for the sector, such as ensuring access to talent and resources, fostering technological innovation and the development of next-generation vehicles, and establishing a pragmatic and predictable regulatory framework.

Project in Focus: TranSensus LCA In their General Assembly on 21 and 22 January 2025 in Grenoble, France, the project partners and associated partners came together to review the status and discuss the work in progress. This meeting marks an important milestone in the final year of the project. TranSensus LCA brings together relevant stakeholders from industry and research to develop a European-wide harmonised, commonly accepted life cycle assessment (LCA) approach for zero-emission road transport. LCA, in general, is a tool to calculate a product’s environmental footprint over the entire life cycle (starting from natural resource acquisition via the production and use stage to disposal and recycling). Among other use cases, this is relevant for zero-emission vehicles (e.g., battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles) and for decision-makers in the industry to better understand the broader impact of different sustainability solutions. https://lnkd.in/d_RGs_F7

From 11 to 13 February, the 8th edition of the Road Transport Research (RTR) Conference will take place at the EGG, Brussels. Together with representatives from the European Commission, Stephan Neugebauer, Director Global Research Cooperation, BMW and ERTRAC - European Road Transport Research Advisory Council & 2Zero Chair and Christian Merkt, Director EU Government Affairs Digitalization and Automated Driving, BMW and CCAM Association Chair will speak in the opening session. At the RTR Conference, you will learn about the results of the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects in road transport research and their expected impacts. The conference will also tackle the next research steps in Green Vehicles, Urban Mobility, Logistics, Intelligent Transport Systems, Safety, and Automated Road Transport. Join the experts and discover how European research in this area is moving forward, benefiting the environment, economy, and European society overall. This is a perfect opportunity to learn more about EUCAR projects. EUCAR is the research association of the automotive manufacturers in Europe to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness through strategic collaborative R&I actions. The EUCAR Council gives guidance and perspectives to help society achieve safer, cleaner, smarter, and more efficient transport solutions by establishing common work with the European Commission, Member States and other key stakeholders. https://lnkd.in/dXYVwQDz

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