The future of low-emission mobility – a BusinessEurope position paper

Key messages

• Business at large recognises the need to transition to low emission mobility both in Europe and globally, with transformations occurring that affect all value chains.
• Regardless of the mode of transport, all technologies, fuels and efficiencies should be able to compete with each other to achieve low-emission mobility in Europe. If we know where we want to go, everyone should be allowed to be part of the solution on how to get there.
• An integrated approach is required, with impact assessments covering environmental costs and benefits, job implications and security of supply. It is therefore important to think about how to shift to a low-emission mobility economy without negatively impacting Europe’s competitiveness and adding geopolitical risks.
• In order to stimulate rather than stifle innovation, new legislation should focus on applying the Innovation Principle and sufficient financing should be made available to create a critical mass for new ideas.
• Given the scale of the challenges, which are environmental, socio-economical and geopolitical in nature, it is crucial that business and other stakeholders are intensively included into the low-emission mobility policy pathway to safeguard public acceptance and European competitiveness. International cooperation is also a must.

Key facts and figures

• The transport sector contributes EUR 548 billion or 4.8% to the EU’s GDP
• Transport adds more than 11 million direct jobs and 11.4 million in transport service-related sectors. 12.6 million of these are in the automotive sector
• The automotive sector invests EUR 50 billion annually in innovation, more than any other sector