The Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (NFAC) organized a meeting on 12 May with the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, and the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez. Board of Directors within the framework of Automobile Barcelona 2023. During the session, both ministers expressed their commitment to the automotive sector as well as to the coordination and management of measures, which allow to accelerate and guarantee the sector’s transformation towards electrified vehicles. industry competitiveness in the future.
In this context, Industry Minister Héctor Gómez informed the Board of Directors about the continuity of work with the sector to advance in this way in the progress of the automotive industry as a key sector and industry in Spain. For her part, Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez indicated the need to work within a framework that guarantees access to mobility for all citizens and progress in the decarbonization of transport.
Members of the Anfac Board of Directors highlighted the urgency of implementing immediate and immediate measures in matters of taxation, direct support for the procurement and development of charging infrastructure that will accelerate the sales of electrified vehicles and emissions consistent with low and zero emissions allows. With reduction requirements set by Europe and decarbonisation commitments supported by the Spanish government, both in the PNIEC and in climate change legislation.
In this sense, Wayne Griffiths, president of Anfac, insisted that “we need a mobility model that supports sustainable private vehicles to persuade investors to bet on Spain. The emission-free car is part of the solution. Not a problem.” Griffiths reminded ministers that “the situation has been very bad and these are not the best years to encourage citizens and companies to buy new cars or trucks. For this reason, our first objective is to work in the automotive value chain in Spain.” The market has to be fixed to maintain the employment of the two million people doing it.
For Griffiths, this goal is compatible with decarbonization. “We have to renew the car fleet because the vehicle that pollutes the most is the old one and a new vehicle is always more durable,” said the president, who also stressed that “we must give priority to electrification”. Because we are lagging behind. We cannot lose any more time and we have to do our best to accelerate the sales of electrified vehicles.”
