The Role of Institutions, Social Actors and Public Policies to Support Sustainability in the Automotive Industry in Europe

What role are the national governments and the European Commission playing in addressing sustainability in European car production? The adoption of regulatory measures and tax incentives for the purchase of non-polluting cars seems to be the most evident facts; but what role are the governments playing in supporting car manufacturers? The acceleration of sustainable mobility and the production of electric cars, if on the one hand have been affected by the debate around the causes of the pandemic, on the other they constitute, for some European countries, one of the main drivers of industrial development in the coming decades. It is clear that these funding instruments also include renewed support for investments in research and development made by car manufacturers and suppliers. The competitive advantage of some countries, both on an industrial and institutional level, runs the risk of polarising this important manufacturing sector again, with the inevitable deterioration of the production system in the countries that have lost significant positions in the last years (such as Italy) or have become manufacturing production areas without significant repercussions on the level of research and development, mainly in past years (such as Spain and Eastern European countries).