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The green and digital transformation of the automotive industry requires robust social dialogue and collective bargaining to ensure a socially sustainable transition. As the industry evolves due to globalisation, digitalisation, automation, and regulatory changes, addressing skills and retraining needs is vital to avoid the loss of quality jobs across Europe.

 

Automotive companies and workers are no strangers to change, yet the challenges posed by industrial transformation vary greatly by region and within different segments of the automotive value chain. The local impact on jobs can differ significantly, with some areas experiencing more severe effects than others. Meeting the Green Deal's objectives will require a staggering scale of retraining and upskilling over the next decade. Skills forecasts indicate that at least 2.4 million automotive workers in OEMs and top-tier suppliers will need retraining by 2030.

 

This immense task demands a strong social dialogue and engagement from regional authorities and vocational education actors across Europe to ensure that the pledge of ‘no one left behind’ becomes a reality. It is crucial to accommodate the interests of both the industry and the workforce.

 

This report examines the context in which social partners operate. It encompasses examples of good practices at various levels - European, national, sectoral, regional, and company - demonstrating how social partners are engaged in managing the transformation. Furthermore, it draws on work from the EU transition pathway for the mobility ecosystem, sectoral social dialogue initiatives, and broader social partner projects within the automotive industry.