Commission unveils the new Automotive Package

The European Commission has unveiled comprehensive Automotive Package proposals aimed at accelerating clean mobility, supporting EU industry, and simplifying regulations. It combines emissions standards, industrial support, and demand-side measures.

A key highlight for Free4Lib is the Battery Booster Strategy, designed to strengthen Europe’s battery value chain, focusing on aspects such as:

• €1.5 billion from the Innovation Fund via the Battery Booster Facility, providing interest-free loans to European battery producers.
• Rolling out projects along the battery raw materials supply chain to build a resilient upstream value chain.
• Encouraging value-added investments and supporting “made in EU” batteries.
• Boosting research, innovation, and skills for the European battery sector.
• Coordinating EU-wide efforts to create a competitive and strategic battery ecosystem.

The package also revises CO₂ standards for cars, vans, and heavy-duty vehicles to help manufacturers meet the 2035 targets. Additionally, it proposes administrative simplification through the so-called Automotive Omnibus, to ease regulatory burdens and reduce the compliance costs. The Package also introduces a new vehicle category of ‘small affordable cars’ and addresses greening corporate fleets as well as revised car labelling rules.

ForFree4Lib, the Automotive Package is essential to monitor, as it not only shapes EU automotive policy but also addresses the importance of the European battery sector by driving innovation, skills, and growth. Many of the proposals in the Package will require negotiation and ultimately an approval by the EU co-legislators– the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. These negotiations have begun early January.

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