European EVs: von der Leyen unveils a strategy unknown to the Commission

Brussels – The new European electric car initiative is an empty box. It will have to be filled, and it probably will be, but for the moment, it is no more than what it is: an announcement and nothing more. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made a grand announcement to the European Parliament that a program to revive the automotive sector is about to be launched. She took the opportunity of the State of the Union address to make her intentions for the automotive industry known. “I believe Europe should have its own E-car,” she said. She went on to say: “‘E for environmental – clean, efficient and lightweight. E for economical – affordable for people. E for European – built here in Europe, with European supply chains.” 

The point is that, apart from the announcements, von der Leyen has not explained how she intends to do this, and in the Commission, at the moment, nobody knows. “We don’t have the details,” acknowledges Paula Pinho, chief spokesperson for the EU executive. “The president has not gone into it; the details will be worked out in the coming weeks.” A sign that the strategy is not there, except in theory, and needs to be developed. A sign that von der Leyen felt the need to keep a divided, shaky European Parliament quiet.

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The only certainty is that this new strategy will be based on the contributions of car manufacturers. “This is why we will propose to work with industry,” von der Leyen said, with her spokesperson not knowing anything more the next day and just repeating the same concept. “We will talk with interested parties“, meaning industry. A dialogue on the automotive sector is scheduled for tomorrow (12 September) with von der Leyen herself chairing the meeting. Who will attend? Not even here is the Commission in a position to give the name of the participating car manufacturers. Silence and lack of information confirm von der Leyen’s centralized and centralist role, as she announces initiatives that no one else within the institution is aware of, leaving her communication team forced to stumble to avoid saying nothing at all.

The EU lacks the necessary raw materials to produce batteries, lacks a developed market or demand, and has insufficient energy capacity for charging. Moreover, the Green Deal has favored Chinese electric cars over European ones, and, earlier this year, the automotive industry already expressed concerns about the EU’s agenda and initiatives. Von der Leyen announces revolutions that have yet to take place, playing a risky card at a time when crossfires against her are intensifying.