EU Mayor's plan proposes adjustments to the existing courses with a focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the automotive and industrial sectors within the EU.

In a collective effort to safeguard the future of hundreds of thousands of jobs and the industrial viability of several cities, a group of mayors has formed the initiative "Mayors for a Strong Automotive Location" in Germany. The cities represented in this alliance include Zwickau, Ingolstadt, Saarbrücken, Dresden, Hildesheim, and Wolfsburg, among others.

The mayors advocate for a reliable framework that would prevent production sites from moving away, preserve jobs, and encourage investments. They argue that the current conditions are not conducive to the growth of the automotive industry, with industrial electricity prices in Germany significantly above European and international levels.

The initiative emphasises the need for a strong automotive location, not just in Germany, but across Europe, to maintain competitiveness in the global market. They urge the EU to create framework conditions that enable investments, secure competitiveness, and maintain jobs, to avoid harming the prosperity of people.

In the interest of climate protection, the group of experts, including Dr. Frank Nopper, Dennis Weilmann, Simon Blümcke, and Uwe Conradt, advocate for openness to technology. Instead of a one-sided focus, they encourage the adoption of various climate-friendly drive forms, including hydrogen and synthetic fuels, in addition to battery-electric drives.

The mayors also demand the suspension of CO2 penalty payments for vehicle fleets and the promotion of innovation rather than over-regulation. They are opposed to imposing additional burdens for citizens and municipalities through the transformation process.

The expansion of charging and hydrogen infrastructure is a key focus of the initiative, as is the need for sensible industry policy. Excessive bureaucracy, according to the ifo, costs the German economy up to 146 billion euros per year in lost economic performance. The mayors argue that reducing bureaucracy would significantly improve operational efficiency.

The automotive summit is expected to set the course for the future of the industry, as a lack of action could result in a massive loss of prosperity, innovative power, and future viability. The website for more information about the initiative can be found at www.saarbruecken.de/automobilstandort.

EU Mayor's plan proposes adjustments to the existing courses with a focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the automotive and industrial sectors within the EU.