Stelantis celebrates the move in the «right direction» to «maintain competitiveness» in the sector
Around 200 companies and 18,500 jobs in the automotive sector in Galicia could benefit from the new action plan presented by Brussels to relaunch this European industry, a reform that includes granting companies another three years to comply with emission reduction.
This initiative that; According to the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzzikostas aims to strike a balance between «sustainability» and «pragmatism»; This will mean a postponement of fines that vehicle manufacturers could face in Europe, which in turn could indirectly affect most of the automotive industry.
Therefore, according to figures from the association of metal industries and associated technologies in Galicia (ASIME), there are around 200 firms in operation in the sector in Galicia, employing around 18,500 workers, due to the decrease in employment recorded in 2024 (still with no detailed data). The latest confirmed data placed the number of workers at 19,600 people in 2023.
«I understand that lasting transition is very important and the need to protect the competitiveness of the automotive sector in Europe. We must try to strike a balance between long-term sustainability and pragmatism,» Tzzikostas urged at the end of a debate with Eurodiputs in the plenary session held in Strasbourg (France).
The commissioner said he is aware of the industry’s «concern» about the risk of facing heavy fines this year for not meeting the agreed 27 objectives in 2019 and said that the relaxation proposal will provide «a bit of clarity and flexibility.»
Specifically, the plan to postpone from 2025 to 2028 the deadline by which economic sanctions for those producers who do not comply with the 15% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will come into effect in terms of 2021. Fulfill fines.
It was precisely the Galicia-based producer, Stelantis, who expressed «satisfaction» with the Commission’s announcements. In this regard, the manufacturer said that the «flexibility» introduced in the CO2 objectives is a «first step» in the «right direction» to maintain competitiveness in the sector», while still being true to the objectives and committed to electrification.»
«This initiative, along with increased support for specific purchases and tax incentives, cheaper (green) energy, and investments in charging infrastructure, can be a real accelerator towards electrification,» Stelantis stated in a press release.
The group with a factory in Vigo also welcomed Brussels’ commitment to explore the possibility of directly providing batteries to producers in the European Union.
«Building European champions in critical sectors such as electric batteries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data, and ensuring access to key raw materials, is the backbone of a powerful, competitive, and independent European industry,» it added.
