Challenges to the European automotive industry in securing critical raw materials for electric mobility: the case of rare earths
Challenges to the European automotive industry in securing critical raw materials for electric mobility: the case of rare earths
复制标题
欧洲汽车工业在获取电动汽车关键原材料方面面临的挑战：以稀土为例
作者：
M. Schmid
摘要 关键原材料 (CRM) 对于向低碳出行转型至关重要。然而，它们的生产往往高度集中在少数国家，这导致了供应风险。本文以稀土元素 (REE) 为例，基于对汽车供应链上企业高管的深入访谈，为欧洲汽车行业应对这些供应风险的战略提供了见解。结果显示，过去缺乏对稀土元素关键性研究及其结果的认识，缺乏价格竞争力在采取缓解策略时的决定性作用，并且缺乏参与稀土（RE）项目以获得产量和安全供应的意愿或能力。总体而言，受影响的公司很难采取长期战略来满足稀土需求。这些发现是针对由于向电动汽车的转变以及汽车行业面临的具体挑战而对 CRM 的新需求进行讨论的。
Abstract Critical raw materials (CRMs) are crucial for the transformation towards low carbon mobility. However, their production is often highly concentrated in a few countries, which leads to supply risks. Exemplified by the case of rare earth elements (REEs) and based on in-depth interviews with corporate executives from companies along the automotive supply chain, this contribution provides insights into the strategies of the European automotive industry to cope with these supply risks. Results show a lack of awareness of REE criticality studies and their outcomes in the past, the decisive role of price competitiveness when pursuing mitigation strategies and a lack of willingness or ability to engage in rare earth (RE) projects to get access to production output and secure supply. Overall, affected companies struggle to pursue long-term oriented strategies to secure their need for REEs. These findings are discussed with regard to the new demand for CRMs due to the shift to electric mobility and the specific challenges that the automotive industry faces.