Heavy-Duty Vehicles – What future in Europe’s automotive sector?

The European automotive sector is at a crucial turning point, facing rapid technological advancements and growing competition. To navigate these changes, in January 2025, President von der Leyen launched a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry.Building on this dialogue, in March 2025, the Commission introduced an Automotive Action Plan, outlining concrete measures to strengthen the industry's resilience, ensure its sustainability, and unlock its full innovative potential.While the plan takes a broad approach to the automotive industry, some stakeholders argue that it lacks specific actions addressing the needs of the commercial vehicle sector, although the Heavy-Duty Vehicle (HDV) sector plays a crucial role in Europe's economy and environmental goals.Listen this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss the importance and potential of the Heavy-Duty Vehicle sector within the framework of the Automotive Action Plan. Questions to be discussed include:• How can the Automotive Action Plan better address the challenges and opportunities of the HDV sector?• How can policymakers and industry leaders collaborate to enhance innovation and competitiveness in the HDV sector?• How can European manufacturers stay competitive in the face of increasing global competition in the commercial vehicle market?