CLEPA has defied the global economic crisis by adding in a rapid pace 27 new organisations to its membership. Seven of these have enrolled soon after the General Assembly in June 2013. “Joining forces gives the automotive suppliers a stronger voice in policy shaping. Moreover CLEPA is launching a range of additional services.  Membership is therefore more attractive than ever”, said Jean-Marc Gales, CLEPA CEO.

Today in Frankfurt, newly appointed members joined the CLEPA Steering Committee and the Board of Directors meetings. “I warmly welcome these appointments. The new colleagues all have extensive leadership experience in high profile automotive organizations and I am convinced that they will make important contributions to CLEPAs strategic direction”, said Mr Jean Marc Gales, CLEPA CEO.

Further to the decision of CLEPA General Assembly last June, four new members joined the CLEPA Steering committee:

-       Karlheinz Haupt, Continental

-       Reiner Spatke, JCI

-       Marc Hendrickx, EUWA

-       Wolfgang Scheider, BOSCH

In parallel, the number of the CLEPA Board of Directors was increased by the following six executives:

-       Marc Szulewicz, Plastic Omnium (during 2013), Eric Auzepy, (during 2014)

-       Eddy van der Vorst, RAI

-       Michael Hawes, SMMT

-       Oskar Goitia, Mondragon

-       Dusan Busen, ACS

-       Frederic Lissalde, BorgWarner

The automotive suppliers collectively employ five million people in Europe making it a leading creator of wealth. The challenges ahead for the automotive industry range from urbanization and protectionism to overcapacity and demographic change. Furthermore, the industry faces increasing competition from other regions of the world in technologies that have traditionally been dominated by the European Industry. The EU needs to adapt and consistently implement a supportive and enabling regulatory framework that helps maintain the technological leadership of the European automotive industry. While pursuing technology-neutral legislation, this framework should seek to promote the competitiveness of the European industry around a high value added model that will sustainably develop or enhance areas of European leadership or excellence. “Smart regulation would bring about safer, greener and more interconnected cars that would reinforce the European technological leadership”, said Mr Jean Marc Gales, CLEPA CEO

Note to Editors

CLEPA is the European Association of Automotive Suppliers.

110 of the world's most prominent suppliers for car parts, systems and modules and 25 National trade associations and European sector associations are members of CLEPA, representing more than 3 thousand companies, employing more than 5 million people and covering all products and services within the automotive supply chain. Based in Brussels, Belgium, CLEPA is recognized as the natural discussion partner by the European Institutions, United Nations and fellow associations (ACEA, JAMA, MEMA, etc).

Facts about the European automotive industry

• Some 12 million people are employed in the European automotive industry
• European automotive suppliers employs directly 5 million people
• European automotive suppliers invest €18bn in RDI per year. They are the biggest private investor into research and innovation
• Per year, 18 million vehicles are manufactured in Europe, contributing to the stability and growth of the European economy

For more information, please contact: Mrs. Amalia Di Stefano, CLEPA Deputy CEO, a.distefano@clepa.be

Tel.: +32 2 743 91 35,  www.clepa.eu