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INNOVATION: European car industry strongly focuses research efforts on environment, safety and production

Key challenges of the Automotive industry today and in the future are a limited supply of fossil fuels, environmental concerns, the need for safer road transport and shorter product life cycles. The European Automotive industry actively responds by focusing its research and development efforts on fuels and engines, integrated safety and mobility applications and materials, processes and manufacturing.

That is the main outcome of the EUCAR conference 2006, held today at the Autoworld Museum in Brussels. EUCAR is the Automotive Manufacturers’ Association for Research & Development in Europe. “Collaborative and pre-competitive research are essential means of making progress and improving the competitiveness of the entire European automotive industry”, said Herbert Kohler, chairman of the EUCAR Council and vice-president Group esearch and Advanced Engineering Vehicle and Powertrain at DaimlerChrysler.

“Sustainable mobility remains the basis of our economic advancement”, said Kohler. He emphasised that scientific research sustains the need for an Integrated Approach to road safety and reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars. “The car industry continues making cars safer and more environmentally friendly. Oil industry, road operators, car owners and policy makers have to play a significant role too”.

European Enterprise Commissioner Günter Verheugen, who addressed the yearly EUCAR reception, stressed the importance of a strong industrial base in Europe. “The capacity to innovate is and will continue to be a key element of global competitiveness of the automotive industry. We need to ensure a framework that enables the industry to stay and invest in Europe.” Verheugen recalled the outcome of CARS 21 last year. This multi-stakeholder group agreed to enhance the global competitiveness of the automotive industry and sustain progress in the fields of safety and environment while keeping cars affordable for the consumer. “Future policy concerning CO2 emissions of cars needs to be based on an Integrated Approach, including alternative fuels and other measures.”

Motor vehicles, the most technologically diverse products in common use, are prime means of personal and commercial mobility in today's world. Cooperation in pre-competitive R&D enables industry, at an acceptable cost, to sustain high levels of quality, safety, reliability and durability, and to decrease, at the same time, environmental impact.

The automotive sector is Europe’s largest private investor in R&D. To support efficiency, effectiveness and economy in R&D performance, the major European automakers join efforts in the European Council for Automotive R&D - EUCAR. Members are BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford Europe, Opel, Porsche, PSA Peugeot-Citroën, Renault, Volkswagen Group and Volvo.

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