Protests at Paris Motor Show Reflect Automotive Industry Crisis in Europe

Protests at the Paris Motor Show Highlight Automotive Industry Crisis

Despite the pouring rain, hundreds of workers from the French and international automobile sectors gathered to protest on Thursday at one of the industry’s most significant events, the Paris Motor Show. While French Minister Delegate for Industry, Marc Ferracci, was seen leisurely walking among the latest luxury vehicles, labor unions took the opportunity to voice their concerns over the unprecedented crisis facing automakers in France and across the European Union.

Protesters carried multiple banners that read, “Under the glitz and glamour, the ransacking of our factories.” On stage, representatives from various trade unions, hailing from countries such as Germany, Belgium, the United States, and Turkey, took turns outlining the dire circumstances plaguing the automotive industry.

  • Stellantis, the parent company of brands like Fiat, Opel, Peugeot, Citroën, and Jeep, along with Renault and Valeo, has been cutting jobs across Europe while relocating operations overseas in search of cheaper labor.
  • Michelin has halted production at several of its tire manufacturing plants, and Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares indicated on Sunday that he does not rule out the possibility of closing factories throughout the EU.
  • Three factories belonging to Valeo have been on the market for several months, putting approximately 1,000 jobs at risk.

“It’s unbearable. There’s a lot of fear, and many people are simply resigning. It’s a constant source of anxiety,” expressed Jean-Rodolphe Colliaux, a union representative from the Valeo factory in Suze-la-Sarthe, located in northwestern France. This facility, which manufactures battery cooling systems for electric vehicles, faces a potential shutdown if a buyer is not found.

Call for Local Manufacturing

Compounding the crisis, the European market has been inundated with inexpensive Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), which have driven prices down as more Chinese manufacturers seek to establish production facilities in Europe. In response, the EU Commission is considering the implementation of hefty tariffs on Chinese EV imports. However, the workers interviewed by Euronews were largely opposed to this approach.

“Taxes as a form of economic warfare is not a solution,” remarked Fritz Hofmann, a German labor union representative for Open (Stellantis). “Before targeting the Chinese, we need our French manufacturers to take responsibility and reduce their profit margins. They must return to manufacturing more in France,” he added.

Jean-Rodolphe Colliaux echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that automakers are hesitant about the proposed tariffs since they also have production facilities outside of Europe. “For example, the Dacia Spring is made in China at Renault. Thus, the issue lies not with China and its workforce,” he stated.

According to labor unions, nearly 70,000 jobs have been lost in the French automotive industry since 2012, a trend that is mirrored throughout Europe. “In Belgium, we see the Audi Brussels plant set to close, resulting in 3,500 job losses,” noted Najar Lahouari, President of the Brabant Metalworkers’ Union in Belgium. “We are also witnessing closures and job losses in France and Italy. This is why we stand together today; what we are experiencing in Belgium is echoed by others across Europe,” he continued.

“The future appears bleak at present. This situation arises because Europe has not invested enough effort or resources into nurturing our industry,” Lahouari asserted before taking the stage. Following this demonstration in Paris, a nationwide protest is scheduled for Friday in Italy, featuring participation from multiple European labor unions.

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