The European Federation of Automotive Aftermarket Distributors FIGIEFA welcomes the publication of the Commission’s Automotive Package as a combination of a more pragmatic approach to decarbonisation, whilst maintaining the climate neutrality goals. Achieving the greening of road transportation, including the electrification of the car park, is still of critical importance and FIGIEFA will continue to support the EU in these goals.
The Automotive Package, unveiled on 16 December during the Strasbourg plenary session, has been long awaited amid a year of intense debate on the future of Europe’s automotive sector.
With the package now including more flexibility on CO2 standards and a broader range of vehicle technologies beyond 2035, FIGIEFA welcomes the Commission’s openness to technology neutrality. This allows a more diverse range of technologies to exist on equal footing. However, at the same time, for the provision of automotive replacement parts, this means an even larger inventory.
Already today, independent parts wholesalers carry a broad product portfolio of 50,000-to 250,000 components for up to 50,000 different vehicle makes and models. These are delivered every day to 300,000 workshops who take care of the mobility of the 285 million vehicles in the EU.
Establishing a framework for the repairability of EV batteries is vital for building consumer trust and for supporting the uptake of electric mobility
FIGIEFA also supports the new initiative on small, affordable, European electric cars, which can contribute to making sustainable mobility accessible to more Europeans. When these new vehicles will be type-approved, it is essential that repairability requirements and the full access to technical repair information in line with the provisions in the Type Approval Regulation continue to apply, as is the case for the current vehicle park. This will be key for ensuring safe and consumer-friendly repair and maintenance throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
FIGIEFA welcomes the Commission’s Battery Booster strategy, which aims to reinforce and strengthen battery production in the EU. However, we regret that the Automotive Package does not address the crucial issue of battery repairability. Repair represents an essential part of the battery value chain and should be recognised as a key factor for ensuring the long-term success and adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Establishing a framework for the repairability of EV batteries is vital for building consumer trust and for supporting the uptake of electric mobility. FIGIEFA urges the Commission to address this remaining gap in upcoming initiatives.
The new ‘Clean Corporate Vehicles’ proposal, mandating Member States to adopt necessary measures to achieve set targets for the share of zero- or low-emission vehicles in large company fleets from 2030 onwards, will require careful assessment. Independent parts wholesalers operate extensive sale and delivery fleets as part of their essential services to workshops to ensure a rapid repair and return of vehicles after servicing or repair.
Independent parts wholesalers operate extensive sale and delivery fleets as part of their essential services to workshops to ensure a rapid repair and return of vehicles after servicing or repair
Our sector thereby serves as key-enabler for road-based mobility. While FIGIEFA fully supports the Commission’s intention to decarbonise road transport, it cautions that such measures could risk harming the EU’s industrial competitiveness. Furthermore, the fact is that at present no electric LCV’s exist which will be able to handle a full day’s cycle of deliveries for a wholesaler.
FIGIEFA calls upon the co-legislators to improve the Automotive Package by including provisions for the automotive aftermarket
FIGIEFA further welcomes the announced evaluation of the Vehicle Type-Approval Regulation, which includes an important Chapter on access to technical repair information. We trust that the evaluation will address the outstanding issues which have not been covered under the Automotive Omnibus proposal.
A comprehensive review should consider the effectiveness of the regime in establishing a level playing field for all actors in the automotive supply chain, particularly for independent market operators as a cornerstone of providing vehicle safety, sustainability and affordability mobility throughout the entire lifecycle of the 285 million vehicles in the EU.
FIGIEFA calls upon the co-legislators to improve the Automotive Package by including provisions for the automotive aftermarket. Only this will ensure that Europe’s future automotive framework supports competitive markets, sustainable mobility, and access to long-lasting, repairable and affordable vehicles for businesses and consumers.
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