Investors sign letter calling for a swift agreement on EU automotive legislation

16 leading institutional investors, representing more than €2.1 trillion in assets under management, have signed a statement calling on the European Parliament and EU Member States to swiftly agree the European Commission's automotive package as proposed. They stress that timely agreement is essential to provide policy certainty and maintain investment momentum in Europe's transition to clean mobility.   

Robeco, Church of England Pensions Board, Storebrand Asset Management and MN are among the 16 signatories.

The investors support the objective of a clean and competitive European automotive sector underpinned by a clear and pragmatic policy framework that reinforces the market direction towards electrification. They note that while the 100% emissions reduction requirement for new cars and vans by 2035 set the clearest possible target, enacting the Commission’s recent proposals swiftly is now the best way to facilitate investors’ capital allocation and stewardship activities to transition the European automotive value chain. 

Signatories note that scaling investment in clean mobility depends on stable and credible policy signals, particularly in a complex and strategic sector such as the automotive one. Electrification is accelerating globally, and maintaining a predictable investment environment will be key to Europe's competitiveness. 

Expectations around electric vehicle uptake will play a central role in shaping investment decisions across the value chain, from power generation and grids to batter production, charging infrastructure and vehicle manufacturing. 

The statement also highlights that the Commission's proposals strike a balance between targeted flexibility for manufacturers and preserving clear long-term signals towards electrification. Investors caution that delays or changes to the framework could weaken the investment case across the value chain. 

The statement calls on co-legislators to maintain the integrity of key measures, including a strong post-2035 emissions framework, clear limits on flexibilities, and effective demand-side policies such as clean corporate fleet targets.  

Harry Ashman, Senior Engagement Specialist, Robeco: “Low carbon transport represents an important investment opportunity and decarbonisation lever for the EU. However regulatory clarity is needed to provide investors and automotive companies with the confidence to invest in the EV value chain. The Commission’s proposals as they stand today provide a balance between flexibility, clarity and ambition; we support their rapid confirmation and efficient implementation.”

Sara Taafe, Responsible Investment Analyst, Church of England: "We see the transition of the European automotive sector to an electric future as critical to our core objective: ensuring our beneficiaries not only retire well, but in a world worth retiring into. EU policy should support the industry to keep pace with rapidly shifting global markets and also provide the policy certainty investors require to confidently invest at scale across the electrification value chain. With extreme heat sweeping across Europe (again), the urgency of reducing emissions is no longer abstract: it's toll is being felt by millions. Consistent policy direction is key to making the net zero transition in Europe investible at scale. As such, we want to see the automotive package agreed quickly without further reducing ambition so we can get on with implementation."

*Correct as of 29/05/2026.

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