The future of low-emission mobility - a BusinessEurope position paper

Key messages

Business at large recognises the need to transition to low emission mobility both in Europe and globally, with transformations occurring that affect all value chains.
Regardless of the mode of transport, all technologies, fuels and efficiencies should be able to compete with each other to achieve low-emission mobility in Europe. If we know where we want to go, everyone should be allowed to be part of the solution on how to get there.
An integrated approach is required, with impact assessments covering environmental costs and benefits, job implications and security of supply. It is therefore important to think about how to shift to a low-emission mobility economy without negatively impacting Europe’s competitiveness and adding geopolitical risks.
In order to stimulate rather than stifle innovation, new legislation should focus on applying the Innovation Principle and sufficient financing should be made available to create a critical mass for new ideas.
Given the scale of the challenges, which are environmental, socio-economical and geopolitical in nature, it is crucial that business and other stakeholders are intensively included into the low-emission mobility policy pathway to safeguard public acceptance and European competitiveness. International cooperation is also a must.

The transport sector contributes EUR 548 billion or 4.8% to the EU’s GDP
Transport adds more than 11 million direct jobs and 11.4 million in transport service-related sectors. 12.6 million of these are in the automotive sector
The automotive sector invests EUR 50 billion annually in innovation, more than any other sector