Italian automotive sector champions innovation and EU competitiveness at national forums

Two high‑profile events in Italy highlighted the automotive industry's push toward digitalisation, electric mobility and skills development. In Santa Maria Imbaro, the Polo Innovazione Automotive e Meccatronica hosted a conference featuring regional officials, university representatives and industry partners to review projects funded by the EU’s FESR, the Vitality Innovation Ecosystem and the European Digital Innovation Hub. Speakers emphasized the need to pair technology adoption—such as artificial‑intelligence‑driven production—with workforce training to support the sector’s transition.

In Rome, European Commission green‑deal adviser Philippe Lamberts addressed legislators and industry leaders, reaffirming the EU’s 2035 zero‑emission target and urging policies that keep European manufacturers competitive against the United States’ fossil‑fuel focus and China’s advanced electric‑vehicle market. He argued that decarbonisation does not have to mean deindustrialisation and called for clearer strategic direction to align climate goals with industrial competitiveness.