Good afternoon,

Today was the second meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry. We had a productive discussion and its clear that action is needed.

Innovation was a key focus. We must secure the future of the car industry with a strong push in software and hardware for autonomous driving. An alliance will enable companies to pool resources and develop shared technologies. Large-scale pilots for autonomous driving will be launched.

The transition to clean mobility is another crucial point. We aim for flexibility in CO2 targets and technology neutrality. A CO2 standards amendment will offer more breathing space.

Competitiveness is vital. We must strengthen European supply chains, especially for batteries. Direct support for EU battery producers and European content requirements are being explored.

These are some of our priorities. More will follow in an Action Plan on March 5. The dialogue with the automotive industry continues. Thank you.