Brussels: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday announced plans for the EU to provide direct support to European electric vehicle battery manufacturers, aiming to strengthen the supply chain, particularly concerning batteries. "We need the European supply chain to be more robust and resilient, particularly when it comes to batteries, and we face a challenge because, while our own production is expanding, we see that imported batteries are less expensive," von der Leyen stated during a press conference following a meeting on the future of the European automotive industry.

According to Anadolu Agency, von der Leyen emphasized the need to balance the cost of electric vehicle batteries without creating new dependencies. She highlighted plans for direct support for European battery producers and the potential introduction of European content requirements for battery cells and components. Additionally, von der Leyen indicated ongoing efforts to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and simplify regulations.

Addressing the rapid evolution required in autonomous driving technologies, von der Leyen noted the global competition in this field. She announced the formation of an 'industry alliance' aimed at pooling resources and accelerating the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles in Europe. "We will also help launch large-scale pilots for autonomous driving because the goal is very simple: we have to get autonomous vehicles on Europe's roads faster," she said.

On the subject of transitioning to clean mobility, von der Leyen acknowledged the automobile sector's need for more flexibility in meeting carbon targets. She stressed the importance of predictability for early entrants in the field while maintaining adherence to agreed targets. Von der Leyen also mentioned forthcoming proposals to amend the CO2 Standards Regulation, allowing companies a three-year period to meet targets instead of annual compliance, thereby providing the industry with more flexibility.