Speakers
The global automotive sector stands at a turning point. With electric vehicles (EVs) at the centre of the dual energy and transport transition, countries are adapting their industrial policies to strengthen and expand their role and capacities along EV value chains. This panel brings together international perspectives, from Morocco, China, Kenya, Germany, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to explore how investment strategies, decarbonisation efforts, and policy coordination are shaping the next phase of the automotive industry.
China is the world’s largest automotive market and EV producer, setting global benchmarks through its policies and supply chain reach. Morocco has emerged as a rising international hub for automotive manufacturing, particularly in EV components and battery value chains, while also developing ambitious policies for the electrification of domestic vehicle fleets. Kenya is positioning itself as a regional frontrunner in EV assembly and adoption within Sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging policy incentives, foreign investment, and local innovation. Germany is Europe’s largest automotive market in terms of both production and sales, with a growing uptake of EVs coupled with support for innovation and infrastructure. Together, they reflect regional diversity and differing stages of value chain integration, innovation, and investment. The UNEP is engaged globally in the promotion of clean fuels, stricter emission standards, and electric mobility to limit pollution and align the global automotive industry with climate goals.
Christian Hochfeld, Director of Agora Verkehrswende, one of the leading think tanks promoting transport transformation globally, will moderate the session, contextualising the discussion with expert insight into the technical, policy, and sustainability dimensions.
