EU President: Future EVs Must Be Made in Europe --- Von der Leyen says bloc to work toward safeguarding broad range of industries. Biden tried to use government money to produce these things. That ended badly. Could we learn from it?

“European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said the future of electric vehicles must be in Europe in a sweeping speech that touched on global trade ties and the transition to clean energy.

 

She said the European Commission will work toward safeguarding a broad range of industries from farmers to startups and electric-vehicle makers. Part of that move includes making 1.8 billion euros, or $2.11 billion, available for companies over the next two years to invest in battery technology and an initiative to offer "Made in Europe" electric cars to Europeans.

 

Chinese carmakers have been expanding aggressively in Europe, winning market share from domestic rivals thanks to their relatively cheap and varied lineups of electric vehicles.

 

She said the commission, which is the bloc's executive arm, will propose initiatives for key strategic sectors like clean technology -- products and innovations that mitigate harmful environmental impacts. "When it comes to digital and cleantech, we have to be faster, smarter and we have to be more European," she said at the European parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

 

The EU gets 70% of its electricity from low-carbon sources and Europe outperforms the U.S. when it comes to filing patents for new clean technologies, she said. "We must stay the course on our climate and environmental goals."

 

Von der Leyen also defended her recently agreed trade deal with U.S. President Trump, saying it is a better agreement than many of the bloc's trading rivals were able to secure.

 

However, she stressed the commission needs to diversify its partnerships in the new geopolitical landscape.

 

"Eighty percent of our trade is with countries other than the United States so we need to capitalize now on these new opportunities," von der Leyen said, adding that the current global trading system is "crumbling."” [1]

 

1. EU President: Future EVs Must Be Made in Europe --- Von der Leyen says bloc to work toward safeguarding broad range of industries. Hancock, Edith.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 11 Sep 2025: B10.