EV sales have been slower than expected at a time when carmakers are contending with tougher EU rules on carbon emissions.A new initiative to help Europe's troubled car industry regain competitiveness personally shepherded by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will officially launch in January, the bloc said on Thursday.
Von der Leyen, who has listed salvaging the automotive sector among the priorities of her second term, first announced a "strategic dialogue" bringing together key sector players in November.
"We need to support this industry in the deep and disruptive transition ahead. And we must ensure that the future of cars remains firmly rooted in Europe," the 66-year-old European Commission president said.
Europe's car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles (EV) and increased competition in key market China.
EV sales have been slower than expected at a time when carmakers are contending with tougher EU rules on carbon emissions.
Layoffs have already been announced at a raft of auto giants and suppliers in Germany and elsewhere in the EU, from Volkswagen and Ford to Bosch, Valeo and Michelin.
The dialogue will bring around the table carmakers, infrastructure providers, trade unions and others to come up with recommendations to help "build a holistic EU strategy" for the sector, the 27-nation bloc said.
It will focus on boosting "innovation and digitalisation", supporting the sector's decarbonisation, and simplifying regulations, among other things, it added.
Several EU countries including France and Italy are pushing for Brussels to ditch fines for embattled European carmakers that do not meet carbon emission reduction targets in 2025.
