Policy Issues
Safety
Vehicle safety is a central priority for ESCA and its members. EU safety legislation, including type-approval and General Safety Regulation requirements, plays a critical role in protecting drivers, passengers, and vulnerable road users.
ESCA works with EU institutions to ensure that safety standards achieve high levels of protection while remaining proportionate for small series manufacturers. Regulatory measures must be technically feasible and economically sustainable for low-volume production, preserving both safety outcomes and industrial diversity within the European automotive ecosystem.
Innovation
Innovation is intrinsic to the business model of small volume manufacturers. Operating at low production scale enables rapid engineering cycles, advanced prototyping, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies in high-performance, luxury, and specialist vehicles.
ESCA members serve as testbeds for innovation across powertrain development, lightweight materials, advanced aerodynamics, electrification, hybridisation, alternative fuels, and digital vehicle architectures. The limited series nature of production allows early deployment of emerging technologies that later diffuse into the broader automotive market, making ESCA members a key contributor to European automotive competitiveness.
EU regulatory frameworks should support this role by preserving technological neutrality, enabling flexible compliance pathways, and recognising the innovation function of small series production. A proportionate and predictable regulatory environment is essential to sustain investment in research, advanced engineering, and next-generation mobility solutions within Europe’s specialist automotive segment.
Emissions
ESCA supports the European Union’s objective of improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Small volume manufacturers are subject to EU emissions legislation, including CO₂ performance standards and pollutant emission requirements for light-duty vehicles.
We engage constructively in the development and implementation of emissions legislation to ensure that regulatory frameworks remain proportionate, technologically neutral, and workable for low-volume production. Effective environmental policy must recognise structural differences in production scale while continuing to drive innovation and decarbonisation across the sector.
Trade
Small volume manufacturers depend on open, rules-based international trade to sustain production, employment and investment in Europe. ESCA advocates for free, fair and reciprocal trade agreements that reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers and promote regulatory cooperation.
Given the limited production volumes and global customer base of our members, access to third-country markets is essential. ESCA supports EU trade negotiations that secure predictable market access, minimise technical barriers to trade, and safeguard the competitiveness of Europe’s specialist automotive manufacturers.