alinnea has launched the Working Group (WG) “Facing the future: the challenge of the electric automotive sector,” with the aim of identifying opportunities and defining strategies for a just transition that combines innovation, reindustrialization, and sustainability.
The automotive industry in Spain is at a crucial moment of transformation. Traditionally a fundamental pillar of the Spanish economy, generating quality employment and contributing significantly to GDP, the sector faces a series of unprecedented challenges that require deep reflection on its future.
This new WG builds on the conclusions reached in 2024 by the Working Group promoted by alinnea to analyze how to boost the penetration of electric vehicles. This new edition plans to delve deeper into industrial policy and financing for the sector; innovation, technological development, and competitiveness for a just transition; and the evolution of the sector from an environmental sustainability perspective. Its participants will meet during four working sessions to be held between May and October 2024. The analysis will be accompanied by the technical support of Jaime Gil-Robles, an expert in electric mobility and collaborator with alinnea.
The working group falls within the thematic area of ‘Green Industrialization’ and is composed of representatives from across the value chain: the private sector, industry and associations, environmental organizations, trade unions, the public sector, research centers, and social organizations.
The Group’s conclusions will be reflected in a roadmap with specific proposals that will be presented at the end of the dialogue sessions.
During the first meeting, industrial policy and financing for the sector were discussed in depth. The need to reduce uncertainty, provide public support through fiscal policy, and simplify bureaucracy was emphasized.
With regard to current drivers of competitiveness, the participating entities highlighted the importance of aspects such as energy management, talent, taxation, R&D, and support for the value chain. The need to conduct a feasibility analysis of the current drivers of competitiveness in the automotive sector was also emphasized.
In this first session, the debate included the participation of various manufacturing and distribution companies (Amazon, Gestamp, Faconauto, Renault Foundation, Stellantis), energy companies and distributors (Iberdrola, Naturgy, Rede Mobi.e), urban planning organizations (Bilbao Metropoli 30, Madrid Green Urban Mobility Lab, Mobility Lab Vitoria-Gasteiz), public administration (Institute for Just Transition, UK Embassy), the social sector (AUVE, CCOO Industria, Fundación Renovables, European Climate Foundation, T&E), and academia and research (App-Mobility, IE University).
alinnea is a Think & Action Tank promoted by IE University with the support of the European Climate Foundation (ECF). Founded in 2024, it works to break down sectoral barriers in the climate transition, promoting investment solutions through dialogue between public, private, and social actors. Its interdisciplinary and collaborative approach allows it to generate realistic and impactful proposals to accelerate climate action.
If you would like to participate in the upcoming sessions of this working group, please contact alinnea at info@alinnea.org.