The European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) welcomes the European Commission’s ‘European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility’ set out today. We believe this is a strategy that can both tackle climate change and safeguard Europe’s position as a world leader in the global automotive industry.

“As CLEPA members are already developing a wide range of technologies to support the transition to a low-emission future, technological neutrality must remain a key principle. This will ensure that innovation will be widely spread across all promising CO2 paths, both the internal combustion engine (ICE) and alternative powertrains including but not limited to electrification”, said  CLEPA President Mr Roberto Vavassori.

Building on the significant record of achievement in recent years, we will work with policymakers to set realistically challenging targets for the next decade as put forward in the strategy. In this timeframe, the already started market introduction of highly-efficient powertrains will accelerate as well.

In order to reduce Europe’s dependency on fossil fuels and to cut transport related emissions, European automotive suppliers continue to develop and adapt powertrains to encompass alternatives including liquid petroleum gas, natural compressed and liquid gas, compressed or liquefied hydrogen and bio-fuels for all vehicle categories.

Furthermore, ICE, in conjunction with progressively increasing levels of electrification, will continue to be fitted to the majority of new vehicles. Therefore, technological advances to improve ICE efficiency must be maintained as well as electrification in its various forms (mild, full, plug in hybrid, full battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell electric). At the same time, efforts to realise the potential for ICE powered cars with alternative (regenerative) fuels need to be intensified.

Regarding post-2020 standards, CLEPA supports the WLTP introduction as a more realistic and robust test procedure for cars and vans and automotive suppliers stress that the conversion from NEDC must not change the ambition level or undermine the 2020 compliance.

European automotive suppliers fully support the transition to low-emission mobility and we at CLEPA reaffirm our continued commitment to work with relevant industry partners and policymakers to achieve this goal.

Note to Editors

CLEPA is the European Association of Automotive Suppliers. 116 of the world's most prominent suppliers for car parts, systems and modules and 23 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 recognised 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 directly employ 5 million people
• European automotive suppliers invest €18bn in RDI per year. They are one of the biggest private investors into research and innovation
• Per year, 16 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, Tel.: +32 2 743 91 35

www.clepa.eu