The domestication of coal and above all oil has accelerated the movement of goods and people exponentially. Mobility is not a consequence of prosperity, but rather the opposite. We have therefore become accustomed to having our goods brought in from the other side of the world or to travelling far by plane for our holidays or work. This has boosted our economies. The abundance and affordability of fossil fuels has allowed us to use, and even abuse, this unlimited mobility until recently. Climate-related constraints will force us to reduce our use of fossil fuels to zero before 2050. Will we be able to find alternative energies, or will we have to accept limits on the mobility of goods and people, or a combination of the two?

Cars are responsible for more than 7% of man-made CO2 emissions, and the number is increasing every year. Carbon neutrality is impossible for the automotive industry, but it could be reduced by more than 90%. As the path to carbon neutrality is as important as the destination, it is necessary to act jointly on new cars and on the existing fleet. A Life Cycle Assessment needs to be undertaken to evaluate the technologies to be used. Measuring tailpipe emissions alone is not enough. Making judicious use of the existing fleet also offers great potential benefits. Success in the quest for carbon neutrality will not depend on the automotive industry alone. The energy sector is heavily involved, particularly in terms of electricity production, and also the materials used in the upstream phase of car assembly. Support from the world's different regions for better use of the car fleet will also have an impact.

Having pioneered freedom of movement, the automotive industry is now facing increasing challenges from environmental constraints, societal aspirations, competition from new entrants and declining attractiveness for talent. This is the right time to explore new opportunities, drawing on all the experience we have gained. Land mobility must become neutral for the environment, give people back space and free time, and offer mobility for all, with the highest level of safety. The automotive industry therefore has enormous opportunities to seize... The time has come to accelerate; the new entrants will be very active! "We cannot solve our problems by thinking in the same way we created them. "Albert Einstein