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Automobile: European manufacturers call for avoiding trade war with the United States

by AI | 16.Jan 2025 | Europe in brief AI

European car manufacturers on Thursday called on the European Union to avoid a “trade conflict” with the United States, four days before Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The new president of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and CEO of Mercedes-Benz, Ola Källenius, is giving a press conference in Brussels on January 16, 2025. (Photo: JEAN THYS / AFP)

Brussels – A trade war could “significantly hurt” the automotive sector, said Ola Källenius, the head of Mercedes and president of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (Acea), at the Brussels Motor Show.

Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated as President of the United States on Monday, has often threatened to drastically increase tariffs on European products.

He pledged to “steal jobs from other countries”. “I want German car companies to become American,” he even said in September.

“The freer and more open the markets, the better it is for the European automotive industry,” said Mr. Källenius in front of journalists, mentioning the United States and China.

Frenchman Stéphane Séjourné, European Commissioner for Industrial Strategy, attended an automotive summit in Stuttgart, Germany, on Thursday, promising a plan to “save the sector” and “boost European demand for clean cars.” (January 16, 2025)