European automotive supplier body, CLEPA, has outlined its shopping list for the next 12 months as the Continent emerges from its long economic winter.
What some label the ‘Great Recession’ has deeply affected European markets, depressing sales and denting consumer confidence, but there are signs, particularly in the north, of green shoot recovery.
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Of particular importance to European suppliers will be a post-2020 CO2 emissions reduction’s strategy, automotive technical regulation 2014-2019, the EU-US transatlantic trade and investment partnership and conflict minerals.
Air quality, road safety, automated driving, skills gap and the aftermarket, also all feature on CLEPA’s wish list.
“We should concentrate our efforts on innovation to maintain our technological leadership,” said CLEPA president, Arnaud de David-Beauregard.
“Perhaps even more important is we deliver a solid contribution to the re-launch of European industrial policy.
“We need to reinforce the cooperation between suppliers and vehicle manufacturers at all levels. This will strengthen Europe’s competitive advantage worldwide.”
Some 112 suppliers for car parts, systems and modules, as well as 25 national trade associations and European sector bodies are members of CLEPA, representing more than 3,000 companies, employing 5m people.
David-Beauregard recently also assumed the role of temporary CEO, following the sudden departure of former chief, Jean-Marc Gales, to Lotus.
“I did not expect it because [it was] not scheduled, David-Beauregard told just-auto last month.
“We had [a] very good relationship together, but he had an opportunity to go back to the car industry in terms of [an] OEM.”
