De Rosa: «Car revival? Italy, France and Germany united»

The European automotive industry is going through a period of unprecedented uncertainty. The policies imposed by Brussels, oriented towards sustainability and energy transition, are raising multiple doubts about their effectiveness and timeliness. Italy, France and Germany have recently undertaken an attempt to relaunch the sector, but according to many experts, the road to recovery could be more tortuous than expected.

To better understand the challenges and opportunities that the European automotive industry will have to face in the coming years, we interviewed Cavaliere Domenico De Rosa , CEO of the Smet Group , an industry leader who has not spared criticism of current political choices. With his critical eye and his experience in the sector, De Rosa offers a clear and unfiltered vision of the difficulties that Europe must face to regain its central role in the global automotive sector.

Cavaliere De Rosa, the joint initiative of Italy, France and Germany to relaunch the European automotive industry has raised various reactions. What is your opinion on this project?

This initiative is a necessary, albeit belated, step towards acknowledging the failures of European industrial policies to date. The current crisis in the automotive industry is not a fatality or an inevitable consequence of globalization, but the direct result of the regulations imposed by Brussels under the Green Deal.

What are the differences with the US and Chinese approaches?

The United States and China are adopting pragmatic and cynical strategies to sustain and expand their auto industries respectively. While the United States protects its industry through pragmatic policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act, China is preparing to dominate the electric technology sector with astute geopolitical planning.

What role do you see for Europe in this situation?

Europe must abandon the illusion that it can reconvert the entire automotive production system with simple bureaucratic impositions. A cultural revolution is needed that puts the industrial sovereignty of the member states back at the center, promoting real competitiveness instead of pursuing regulatory utopias.

What is your opinion on the current collaboration between Italy, France and Germany?

The collaborative initiative is a positive step, but I think it came too late. The consequences of ideological shortsightedness are already evident with closed factories, bankrupt suppliers and a loss of market share to China.

What are the future prospects for the European automotive sector?

While we hope for a recovery, it is clear that the industry will never return to its previous form. A radical change in thinking and policies is needed to safeguard the European automotive industry.

There are those who suggest that Ursula von der Leyen may be forced to modify the green diktats imposed by Brussels or to resign so as not to have to deny her choices

This is not an unrealistic vision. As Pierluigi Bonora, a journalist at Il Giornale and an expert in the sector, pointed out, Europe could be forced to take a step back. The current situation could force von der Leyen to change her approach, admitting that her vision has been too distant from market reality. It would be a good thing if this meant greater technological neutrality and the lifting of sanctions for companies that fail to meet the emissions limits imposed by Brussels.