The French auto industry is facing a major transformation as the country prepares for the 2035 deadline to phase out new internal combustion engine cars.
This shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is worrying the 200,000 workers employed in the sector, who fear their jobs are at stake. ETAuto reported.
In some regions, such as northern France, there is optimism with the emergence of a ‘Battery Valley’ and the construction of battery ‘gigafactories’.
Such a facility is being built by the Automotive Cells Company (ACC) in Douvrin, a joint venture between Mercedes, Stellantis and TotalEnergies, among others.
The ACC factory is located on the site of a former engine factory for Stellantis. Stellantis’ workforce has declined from around 5,000 in the 1980s to 700 today.
The report quotes Stellantis as saying the location was chosen to meet the “social need” to retrain workers.
Stellantis-Douvrin employees receive 12 weeks of training on the highly automated battery production lines at the ACC Battery Training Center.
Elsewhere, however, the mood is less optimistic. For example, Walor, which produces connecting rods for tractors and trucks, is not directly threatened by the EV transition, but demand for other products such as transmission differential housings and engine manifolds is expected to change significantly.
After being taken over by a German fund specialising in rescuing struggling companies, Walor is looking to sell its Vouziers site and a nearby one. Employees have accepted the potential closure due to a shrinking order portfolio.
According to industry association Plateforme automobile (PFA), around 17,000 jobs are expected to be created in battery gigafactories and recycling facilities by 2026.
Nevertheless, it is uncertain whether this will be enough to prevent many workers from losing their jobs.
A 2021 study by the French metalworking industry found that the transition to electric vehicles could put 65,000 jobs at risk by 2030.
Another study by two climate organisations shows that the lower labour requirements for electric car production could benefit the production of small cars in Europe.
However, Jullien believes that the electrification of cars will likely lead to more offshoring, potentially reducing total employment in the French auto industry to 100,000 or less.
“French auto industry’s transition to electric vehicles raises concerns about 200,000 jobs” was originally created and published by Motor financing onlinea brand of GlobalData.
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