European Union considers measures to protect automotive industry from foreign competition

The European Union is evaluating new measures to protect its automotive sector from growing competition, particularly from China and the United States. Speaking recently, European Commission Vice President Stephane Sejourne highlighted the difficulties facing European automakers and suggested that the planned 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine vehicle sales should be reconsidered. Sejourne warned that without swift action, the number of vehicles produced in Europe could drop from 13 million to 9 million within the next decade, underscoring the need for urgent policy review.

European car manufacturers have begun to fall behind their Chinese and American competitors and are urging the EU for greater support and flexibility. Industry representatives are calling for a reassessment of the EU’s carbon emission targets, reconsideration of the combustion engine ban, and strategies to make domestically produced electric vehicles more attractive. The European automotive sector currently provides jobs for about 13 million people across the continent.

Several EU countries with major carmakers are now requesting more flexibility regarding the target for all new cars sold from 2035 to be zero-emission. The EU’s broader industrial strategy and guidelines for foreign investment are expected to be clarified by the end of the year, as leaders seek to secure the future of a sector that remains essential to Europe’s economy.