The “European vehicle”: Choosing sovereignty over dependency 

Ahead of the anticipated publication of the Industrial Accelerator Act, CLEPA’s President, Matthias Zink, and Vice-Presidents, Iñigo Laskurain, Jean-Luc di Paola Galloni, and Marco Stella, have issued an open letter urging President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Commissioners to take decisive action to support European suppliers against mounting unfair competition.

While welcoming global trade, they warn that distortive subsidies, state-backed overcapacity and unilateral tariffs are placing European automotive suppliers at a structural disadvantage. Without intervention, the EU risks trading its technological sovereignty for permanent dependency on regions with lower costs and weaker regulations.

A clear and ambitious definition of the ‘European vehicle’ is essential to ensure that the value of the mobility transformation remains anchored in Europe.

To bolster industrial resilience and sustain high-quality jobs, the Industrial Accelerator Act must include:

• A 75% local content threshold at the vehicle level for public support (excluding batteries)
• Targeted and gradual thresholds for critical technologies such as electric powertrains and electrical & electronic components

Read the full letter below.