CARNET Attended an Event Organized by the Government of Catalonia to Promote the Green Transition of the Mobility Sector in the Region
The government aims to address the challenges facing the industry, such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, electromobility, emissions reduction, changes in mobility consumption patterns, and the entry of new actors. Over 200 sector representatives and key stakeholders attended the exclusive event, where the government highlighted its efforts to support the sector’s transition to sustainable mobility, with electrification playing a crucial role in this shift.
CARNET was invited to the event as a key player bridging academia and industry. With its network, CARNET can link both sides to innovate toward more sustainable mobility. Wayne Griffiths, CEO at SEAT S.A – CUPRA and president of ANFAC, attended the event as an industry representative. The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) was also present, with Daniel Crespo, Rector from the university, as their delegate.
During the event, the President of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès i Garcia, emphasized the government’s proactive role in promoting electric mobility, facilitating and promoting the installation of charging points, and supporting the automotive sector in its transformation. The head of the executive announced that they will have mobilized a total of 195 million euros in three years to acquire electric vehicles and install charging points, making Catalonia the territory in the state that has attracted the most funds.
The Minister of Business and Work, Roger Torrent i Ramió, also attended the event and emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the mobility industry and its strategic value for the country’s productive and economic system. Wayne Griffiths stated that “electromobility is an opportunity for Catalonia” and that the automotive sector needs to see Catalonia and Spain as a friendly country for cars to incentivize investments. The president of ANFAC concluded by stressing that “there is no Plan B in this transformation” and that the country needs to accelerate the electrification of the industry.
During the event, the President announced that the Department of Business and Work has allocated a total of 23 million euros to mobility and automotive projects that have generated 2,131 jobs and an investment of 114 million euros in 2021-2022. Additionally, the government will allocate direct aid to make the Future Fast Forward project a reality, involving the electrification of the Martorell plant and an investment of 3 billion euros by the Volkswagen-Seat Group.
The automotive industry is undergoing a major transformation, with the development of new technologies and changes in consumer behavior driving the shift towards sustainable mobility. The government of Catalonia is taking an active role in promoting this transition. Key players in this effort include CARNET, which bridges the gap between academia and industry to drive innovation towards sustainable mobility. The recent event highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting the industry, with investments in mobility and automotive projects and direct aid for electrification initiatives, positioning Catalonia as a leader in the automotive industry.
