PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY OF THE EUROPEAN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) represents the interests of the fifteen European car, truck and bus manufacturers at EU level. Its membership consists of the major international automobile companies, working together in an active association to ensure effective communication and negotiation with legislative, commercial, technical, consumer, environmental and other interests. Technical expertise and advisory input comes from over twenty different working groups, made up of experts from the member companies.

ACEA’s activities include, but are not limited to, the following actions:

• Dialogue with the European Union at all levels, and with all others concerned by the automobile industry, including the European public. Because there is such strong interaction between what happens in the industry and what happens in society and the economy, this dialogue is an integral part of the industry's social responsibility;
• Cooperation with policy makers, legislators and opinion-makers, in order to make use of the industry's experience and expert knowledge, to advance mutual understanding of industry-related issues and to make a constructive contribution to realistic and effective legislation, bearing in mind the interests of European society and its economy;
• Partnership among all its members and with associated organisations and related industries in defining, developing and supporting the common interests, policies and positions of the European automobile industry;
• Strategic Reflection on the increasingly global challenges of competition and social responsibility, drawing on the strengths and expertise of its members;
• Communication of the role and importance of the industry, of its common views and of reliable data and information;
• Monitoring of all activities which influence the automobile industry, responding to and cooperating with the actors involved.

Priority Fields

Apart from the many technical issues, the European automotive industry currently has seven priority topics it discusses with the EU institutions and other stakeholders on a structural basis.

• A real completion of the Internal Market, which will not be achieved without fiscal harmonisation of motor vehicle and fuel taxes. In light of the CO2 challenge, taxation schemes should be based on the CO2 emissions of cars and the use of alternative fuels, to increase demand for fuel-efficiency.
• Reducing over-regulation and conflicting objectives of legislation via adequate and independent impact assessment studies, and reasonable lead-time periods for implementation.
• Better promotion of R&D efforts and innovation policy instruments.
• Global harmonisation of technical regulations and standards for motor vehicles.
• Continuous development of efficient road infrastructure, while ensuring the promotion of competitive access to basic infrastructure networks (road, energy, transport, telecommunications).
• Better market access for European automotive products via the completion of the WTO’s Doha Round and together with some bilateral/regional free trade agreements.
• Adoption of an Integrated Approach to important societal issues such as road safety and the reduction of CO2 emissions, involving all relevant actors and factors.

Members : BMW Group, Daimler AG, Daf Trucks NV, Fiat SpA, Ford of Europe GmbH, General Motors Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe GmbH, Iveco S.p.A., Jaguar Landrover, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault SA, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen AG, Volvo Car Corporation, AB Volvo. 

Associated Organizations : Automobile Industry Association of Austria (FFOE), Austria ; Belgian Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Industries (FEBIAC), Belgium; Association of Car Manufacturers and their Authorized Representatives for Bulgaria (ACM), Bulgaria;  Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB), Cyprus; Automotive Industry Association of the Czech Republic (AIA CR (SAP), Czech Republic; Danish Car Importers Association (DBI), Denmark; Union of Estonian Car Sales and Service Enterprises (AMTEL), Estonia; Association of Automobile Importers in Finland (AUTOTUOJATRY), Finland; French Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (CCFA), France; Automobile Industry Association (VDA), Germany; Association of Motor Vehicle Importers’ Representatives (AMVIR (SEAA), Greece; Association of the Hungarian Automotive Industry (AHAI (MGSZ), Hungary; Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), Ireland; Italian Association of the Automobile Industry (ANFIA), Italy; Automotive Association (AUTO ASOCIĀCIJA), Latvia; Lithuanian Autoentrepreneurs Association (LAA), Lithuania; Association of Car Importers Malta (ACIM), Malta; Motorcycle and Automobile Industry Association (RAI), The Netherlands; Automobile Importers' Association (BIL), Norway ; Polish Automotive Industry Association (PZPM), Poland; Automobile Association of Portugal (ACAP), Portugal; Automobile Manufacturers’ Association of Romania (ACAROM), Romania; Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Authorised Importers (ADS), Slovenia; Automotive Industry Association SR (ZAP SR), Slovak Republic; Spanish Association of Car and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC), Spain; Swedish Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (BIL Sweden), Sweden; Association of Swiss Importers of Automobiles (Auto-Suisse/Auto-Schweiz); Switzerland; Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (OSD), Turkey; Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd. (SMMT), United Kingdom.

Cooperation

ACEA has permanent and close co-operation with the European Council for Automotive R&D (EUCAR) the research arm of the industry. EUCAR's purpose is to strengthen the competitiveness of the European automotive industry by promoting and carrying out co-operative research and development of products, processes and systems.

ACEA maintains close relationships with all the national automobile manufacturers' associations and with a number of organisations, having interests related to the automobile industry. These include the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA), Intelligent Transport Systems - Europe (ERTICO), the European Committee for Motor Trades and Repairs (CECRA), the European Road Safety Federation (ERSF), the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and BusinessEurope.

ACEA also maintains a dialogue on international issues with automobile associations around the world (JAMA (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association), KAMA (Korean Automotive Manufacturers Association), AAM (American Automobile Association, ATPC (Automotive Trade Policy Council).