Modern defence increasingly depends on the same industrial capabilities that underpin Europe's automotive sector. The automotive industry supports 14 million jobs and accounts for 34% of Europe's R&D investment. That is why, during my intervention at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum, I highlighted how the capabilities developed every day by Europe's automotive industry can also contribute to Europe's defence resilience.
Every year, Europe’s automotive industry manufactures millions of highly sophisticated vehicles. Our sector also represents one of Europe’s largest concentrations of advanced manufacturing capability. From large-scale production lines and highly skilled engineers to software-defined vehicles, battery technologies and connected systems, many of these capabilities are directly relevant to Europe’s evolving defence needs.
We fully support Europe’s shift from predominantly “just in time” to a greater readiness for “just in case”. But resilience means building an industrial ecosystem that is competitive enough in peacetime, and thus capable to respond rapidly in times of crisis. (....)