ACAROM: “Total investments in R&D by automotive companies reached 57.4 billion Euro in 2019, which represents 28 percent of the total EU R&D expenditures”

Total investments in R&D made by the European automotive industry in 2019 was 57.4 billion Euro, which represents 28 percent of the total EU R&D expenditures, according to Adrian Sandu, Secretary General – Member of the Board ACAROM.

“ACAROM is the most representative association of the automotive sector. We have public utility status which was obtained this year due to Government Decision 410/2020,” Sandu (photo left) said during the “Automotive R&D Power Breakfast”, powered by Automotive Today and The Diplomat-Bucharest.

ACAROM gathers more than 170 companies, covering: design, testing, production after market, automotive services activities, technical universities.

“We are promoting the fact that the automotive industry is really important for Romania,” Cristian Nevzoreanu, adviser to the Prime Minister on automotive industry added. “In 2019, the automotive industry had a turnover of 31 billion Euro, increasing with 11 percent compared to 2018. This is a steady increase year-on-year. This figure represents 14 percent of Romania’s GDP and also 27 percent of Romanian exports. It also means over 230,000 direct jobs, and over 10,000 highly skilled engineers”.

Since 2006, ACAROM is an associated member of ACEA – The European Automobile Manufacturers Association, being the unique representative of the Romanian Automotive Industry at European Level.

Today’s safer roads and cleaner, more efficient vehicles are the direct result of past investment in R&D.

In the decades to come, automotive research will focus on areas such as transport rationalization, improving road safety and focusing on the environmental impact of increased mobility needs: autonomous driving, connected vehicles, electric charging infrastructure, digitalization of processes, production.