Car part firms warn fixation on electric cars will cost EU jobs

A fixation on electric cars risks damaging Europe’s auto supplies industry and handing jobs to China, the region’s car parts manufacturers warned at the Frankfurt motor show.

Suppliers, which say they provide around 5 million European jobs, want carmakers and politicians to look at other ways of cutting vehicle emissions too, such as more efficient combustion engines and synthetic fuels.

Roberto Vavassori, president of European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) warned a headlong rush to electric cars would hand business to China, which along with South Korea and Japan dominate battery production for such vehicles.