Sernauto calls for public-private collaboration to boost the Spanish automotive industry.

The 12th SERNAUTO Meeting, held this Thursday at IFEMA Madrid under the theme "DNA Spain. Drive, intelligence, and resilience," brought together leading figures from the political, business, and technological spheres to discuss the future of the automotive supplier industry in Spain. The central objective was to analyze how the country can strengthen its position as a leading global industrial and technological hub.

The event was opened by the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, who emphasized the strategic role of the Spanish automotive sector, highlighting its 17 vehicle production plants, 1,000 suppliers, presence in more than 170 countries, and advanced technology centers.

Hereu emphasized the need for European plans to be translated into concrete measures to defend this industry, encouraging companies to take advantage of ministerial instruments such as the PERTEs and fleet renewal plans to transform challenges into opportunities.

Francisco J. Riberas, president of SERNAUTO, called for public-private collaboration to boost innovation and improve business competitiveness and financing as quickly as possible. "We are clearly part of Spain's DNA. We have proven to be resilient, but that's not enough. We must push forward into the future, innovating in new products and processes," Riberas stated, emphasizing the importance of acting together.

The opening conference featured the vision of Antonio Brufau, Chairman of Repsol, who described the current context as a "last game point" for Europe, but also as a "great opportunity for a radical shift" that will allow it to regain its lost leadership. Following this, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Chairman of the Popular Party, highlighted the culture of innovation in Spanish industry and proposed a specific national plan, pragmatic and neutral decarbonization, and reindustrialization to maintain the sector's leadership.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of the People's Party (PP), then spoke, highlighting the value of the Spanish automotive industry's culture of innovation, which has allowed Spain to become the second-largest vehicle producer in Europe. To ensure the sector maintains this leading position, Feijóo outlined the points of his proposal: a specific national plan; a transition toward pragmatic, carbon-neutral decarbonization; and reindustrialization.

Vicente Segura, Automotive Partner at Deloitte, offered his perspective on the strengths of the Spanish industry, emphasizing key factors such as sustainability, digitalization, new business models, and the global environment. He emphasized the need for a clear strategy, greater technological specialization, and the search for key drivers that will differentiate Spain from new competitors and more attractive environments.

The report, prepared by Deloitte and SERNAUTO and presented by Segura, highlighted the reasons for investing in Spain: a robust and agile industrial ecosystem, a strategic geographic location, global connectivity, multicultural capacity, and an environment that generates confidence to attract investment and qualified talent.

A crucial discussion on the European automotive industry took place between the president of SERNAUTO, Francisco J. Riberas, and the interim CEO of SEAT and CUPRA, Markus Haupt. Both agreed on the vital importance of collaboration between manufacturers, suppliers, and the rest of the ecosystem to align objectives. Riberas lamented that Europe has not "focused on preserving the automotive industry," urging concrete measures. Haupt, for his part, praised the Spanish industrial fabric, its talent, and its ability to anticipate when introducing new technologies.

The Meeting also highlighted the internationalization of SMEs in the sector through "Elevator Pitch" presentations from companies such as Ajusa, Fersa, and Frenkit, which shared their successful experiences in global expansion. The event addressed the importance of talent in the era of artificial intelligence, with experts such as Elena Riber (The Adecco Group), Concepción Galdón (IE Business School), and Verónica Rodríguez (Bosch), emphasizing that AI empowers people to reach their full potential and that the future of the automotive industry is built with technology, but above all, with purpose, creativity, and humanity.

The closing ceremony was led by David Moneo, Director of Mobility Shows at IFEMA, who celebrated the record-breaking figures at the latest edition of Motortec, the leading trade fair for the automotive aftermarket. Moneo highlighted the unity of the sector and its ability to "open markets, consolidate alliances, and position our products." Finally, Marcos Abollado (Xponenciales) gave a talk on "transformative leadership" to successfully navigate change, closing out a day that, once again, reaffirmed the sector's commitment to sustainability, mitigating its emissions through the Motor Verde project and supporting the Caminomorisco forest.