The entry of the Chinese giant into the eMobility market continues to have far-reaching consequences.
The initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of battery electric vehicles (BEV) from China to the European Union is not the only development.
Now, top executives are also focusing their speeches on a call to action to protect the local eMobility component.
“Competition is good, European brands need to keep investing. We must not lose one of the few spearheads we have,” warns Laura Ros, Director of Volkswagen Spain, in this regard.
Within the context of the Global Mobility Call, the executive emphasizes that the variety in the offerings is not something to be viewed from a state of alert.
However, it is important not to lose sight of the position achieved globally up to this point.
What about Spain? Specifically, it’s a matter that should be taken very seriously.
“We have to play a very important role in this new sector, and if we don’t, we won’t attract investments,” she comments without hesitation.
At the moment, Spain is the second-largest car manufacturer in all of Europe, and in the field of eMobility, it aims to be in the same position.
Investments are coming.
The new battery plant of Seat and Volkswagen will mobilize 10 billion euros in investments.
This is just one of the many confirmed investments, with others still to be confirmed. But the industry needs to be more attractive, and the market share of electrified cars should continue to grow, according to Laura Ros’s perspective.
How to achieve this? Taxation and subsidies seem to be the ideal leverage.
“As an industry, we need to be more ambitious, and the government must provide the necessary incentives to stimulate the demand for electric cars,” says Ros.
She adds, “We are in a moment of transformation in Spain, and we work in the factories for that. We are optimistic about the quality and coverage of the infrastructure.”
At the moment, there is uncertainty when it comes to incentives, specifically the Moves Plan.
On December 31, it will end as we know it, with a remaining fund to be distributed.
The question revolves around whether it will continue as currently planned, be revised, or if there will be a temporary end to incentive plans.
“When you consider the Plan Moves along with the incentives on income tax, there can be discounts of up to 10.000 euros, but the complexity in processing these incentives is hindering the demand.”
On April 13, 2021, the Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, approved Royal Decree 266/2021 to grant direct aid to the autonomous communities and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla for the implementation of Plan Moves III.
Since that date, during the rollout of the second phase of the project, there have been numerous delays in the disbursement of subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles.
And as a result, the industry shares the opinion of Laura Ros today: “With the right incentives, Spain can be a great ambassador and a spearhead for change.”
