Europe Asia News

French President Macron, speaking at the Motor Show, highlighted France’s progress in electric vehicle and battery production and called for greater competitiveness in the European automotive sector.

In a statement on social media, Macron said that 10 years ago there were assessments that producing electric batteries in Europe was not possible and that the French automotive sector would not be able to withstand global competition. Macron said four gigafactories had been built in France and hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles had been produced, adding that the Renault 4 and Renault 5 models were also leaving factories with batteries made in France.

Macron said these developments were beneficial for employment and the economy while also being aligned with climate goals, emphasizing that the French and European automotive sectors were innovating, accelerating production and reindustrializing.

Macron said they had identified three priorities for the future of the European automotive industry.

Macron said the first priority was to protect industry, noting that the agreement signed between the European Union and China was an important step in tackling unfair competition, particularly in the field of hybrid vehicles. Macron said fair competitive conditions that protect companies and jobs must be ensured.

Macron said the second priority was to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and reindustrialization, noting that more than 40 percent of vehicles sold in September were electric. He said investments in innovation were being made and industrial sectors revitalized through the France 2030 program, adding that work in this field, particularly on autonomous vehicles, would continue.

Macron said the third priority was to strengthen Europe’s industrial independence, adding that they were working with Germany on an agreement that would strike a balance between decarbonization, competitiveness and the protection of industry.

Macron emphasized that producing vehicles and their components in Europe was among their priorities, highlighting the importance of decarbonizing without eliminating industrialization, innovating without increasing external dependence and preserving Europe’s production capacity.