Comment on the CARS 21 Report by FIA President Max Mosley

Publication date: 12 December 2005

“The CARS21 report provides a framework for the future of automobile regulation in the EU that will benefit both industry and the consumer. By providing a road map for further progress in making cars cleaner and safer, the report gives industry clear tasks to achieve and the customer the prospect of better and more affordable cars.

cars21finalreport.pdf (499 KB)

“I am especially pleased that CARS 21 encourages a fast track for the use of life saving crash avoidance technologies such as Electronic Stability Control. Also by integrating plans to reduce vehicle emissions with complimentary policies of Member States such as fiscal incentives, the effectiveness of the EU strategy to tackle climate change and improve air quality should be substantially increased.

“The FIA, representing more than 40 million road users and their families in the EU, through its participation in CARS 21 has strongly promoted consumer interests in making cars clean, safe and more affordable. The final report of CARS 21 reflects these concerns. For example, the report will strengthen consumer protection by ensuring that access to repair information will be available to independent vehicle repairers. Given that maintenance amounts to half the lifetime cost of running a car, this commitment to further legislative action is a significant step forward.

“In the future, the CARS 21 report also makes it clear that all relevant stakeholders must be able to influence the future regulatory process of the automobile industry, in a way that is transparent and based on coherent impact assessment. This will ensure that the EU institutions can base their proposals based on advice from a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the automotive regulatory process.

“The FIA is also pleased that CARS 21 will encourage global convergence of vehicle safety and emission standards through greater use of the United Nations World Forum for Motor Vehicle Standards Harmonisation in Geneva. This will help provide economies of scale that can significantly reduce the costs of advanced safety and environmental technologies. Global harmonisation of safety and environmental standards worldwide is important if we really want to deal effectively with global warming, and help to reduce the 1.2 million people killed on the world’s roads each year.”

For more information:
- CARS21 final report
- European Commission: Press Release IP/05/1564
- FIA website

cars21finalreport.pdf (499 KB)

cars21pressrelease.pdf (165 KB)