Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, on March 20th, a coalition of leaders of national associations launched the start of a European alliance in Brussels, advocating for the interests of the ecosystem of automotive and mobility services across Europe, in specific from European dealers to repair shops, independent and franchised. This initiative aims to ensure that the sector's concerns are heard at the highest levels of EU policymaking.
The organisation is committed to representing the interests of businesses in the automotive retail and service industry, ensuring fair regulations, market access, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in this vital sector. By creating a European alliance, founded by the leading national associations throughout Europe, the members will work to influence legislation, foster industry growth, and promote sustainability and innovation in automotive and mobility services.
The alliance is called “Automotive Mobility Europe” (AME):
The logo symbolizes both the sector's technology and its ecological transition, which are represented by its colors. The blue circle with the European stars illustrates the alliance’s cooperation at the EU level. The modern font evokes innovation, promoting mobility and connectivity on a European scale. The baseline 'Keep Europe Moving' illustrates the intention to collaborate in order to strengthen the representation of the automotive aftermarket to European institution.
During this founding meeting, on March 20th, Mr. Xavier Horent (Mobilians) and Dr. Kurt-Christian Scheel (ZDK) were elected co-chairs. The signing of the letter of intent marks the first step towards a structured collaboration.
“We are launching this initiative because automotive and mobility services, from car dealers to repair shops play an essential role in Europe's economy and mobility landscape. These activities account for more than half of all jobs in the automotive sector in Europe. Yet, their voices are often overlooked in policy discussions” the participants concluded. “Our mission is to advocate for policies that support competitiveness, innovation, and consumer choice, while services are playing a full part in the transformation of the sector and are driving the circular economy and responsible mobility.”
The alliance invites all relevant organizations to join forces in shaping a strong, unified representation for the sector at the European level. With the automotive industry facing rapid transformation due to digitalization, decarbonization, and evolving regulatory frameworks, it is crucial to ensure that the role of mobility actors which are closest to the consumer is central.
A Strong Ambition for a Changing Sector
The European Alliance has set several key objectives :
- Advocating for industry interests: Conducting coordinated actions with European and national institutions to promote a favorable regulatory framework for the automotive ecosystem, in particular SMEs.
- Sharing best practices: Encouraging cooperation and exchange of experiences to enhance service quality and competitiveness.
- Training and innovation: Developing programs aligned with technological advancements, particularly in digitalization and vehicle electrification.
- Environmental commitment: Supporting the transition to sustainable mobility and promoting eco-friendly practices.
- International representation: Increasing the sectors visibility through active participation in major industry events.
Keep Europe Moving
This alliance brings together organisations from several European countries, including as of today:
AKL (Finland)
ARAN (Portugal)
AutoBranchen (Denmark)
BOVAG (Netherlands)
GANVAM (Spain)
Mobilians (France)
Traxio (Belgium)
ZDK (Germany)
