Timmermans: we need to start mass battery production in Europe

Timmermans justified the outstanding importance of electric car production by saying that Chinese manufacturers will come up with around 80 new models by the end of 2023, and that the United States and India are also developing new production capacities. All of this supports the need for innovation and environmentally friendly means of transport.

According to the EU politician, electric cars will not be "luxury items" for long: such vehicles will become affordable over time, and since more people will have access to them, there will soon also be a market for used electric cars.

"As social democrats, it's our job to make electric vehicles affordable for everyone," Timmermans explained, adding: "change is inevitable, but we have to ensure its social justice."
At the same time, the EU Commissioner drew attention to the fact that it is not necessary to deal with several technologies, since then the products of each industry - including the sector dealing with the development of synthetic fuel produced with the help of green energy - will remain expensive. "This is the advantage of Europe: that we can create long-term legislation," Timmermans said, pointing out that "we have to define where we are going." He added that neither the United States nor China are involved in the production of synthetic fuel anymore, "because they are not stupid either."

Regarding human resources, Timmermans rejected the need for layoffs. "The automotive industry does not require fewer people, but new knowledge," said the Dutch politician. He also added that "the real challenge is the retraining of employees, because "we don't need workers skilled in cylinders, but in batteries and IT systems".
He noted that 800,000 workers are needed in the field of battery production alone in Europe. When asked whether people who have been working in the automotive industry for 20-30 years have a future in the sector, he stated that all employees will be needed in the future. "There is already a labor shortage today, and I don't think it is acceptable to solve this problem only through immigration," said Timmermans, adding that first of all, European workers must be retrained, even those over 50-55 years old, because today - as opposed to the period of closure of the former coal mines - there is the potential to keep people in the industry.

(Source: autokalauz.co.hu; MTI | Image: pixabay.com)