Defining moment for the European automotive industry. Battery raw materials supply part of the potential agenda.
As part of its ongoing efforts to bolster the European automotive sector, the European Commission will hold a Strategic Dialogue aimed at securing the future of the industry on January 30th. Geopolitical tensions, global competition, and the complex transition towards decarbonization are challenging the sector and must be addressed with urgency, according to President Ursula von der Leyen. The sector represents roughly seven percent of the EU’s GDP, with over 13 million people employed, highlighting its significance for the EU economy.
As part of a potential agenda, the Strategic Dialogue will focus on the supply of raw materials essential for producing electric vehicles (EVs) and key automotive technologies, among other areas. The industry is undergoing rapid transformation; to stay competitive, the sector requires access to a steady, sustainable supply of critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are key for manufacturing batteries and other advanced vehicle technologies. Besides securing trade partnerships with resource-rich countries, recycling will also be central to this. Industry associations from Germany have recently called for action to strengthen the circular economy, underlining the importance of recycling for the whole economy (we reported).
In addition to securing access to raw materials, the dialogue will cover areas such as innovation, trade relations, optimization, and competitiveness. The dialogue will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, and other key stakeholders to discuss the challenges the European automotive industry faces.
The full list of topics can be found here.
Photo: MicroStockHub, Kolonko via Canva
