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Von der Leyen Calls for Europe-Wide Push on AI-Powered Cars to Revive Auto Industry

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged the European Union to embrace an “AI first” strategy for the automotive sector, calling for a coordinated effort to develop self-driving cars made in Europe. Speaking at Italian Tech Week in Turin, the continent’s automotive capital, she argued that artificial intelligence could rejuvenate Europe’s car industry while enhancing road safety and sustainability.

“Self-driving cars are already a reality in the United States and China. The same should be true here in Europe,” von der Leyen said, emphasizing that “AI first” must also mean “safety first.” Her comments reflect growing concern in Brussels about the competitiveness gap between European automakers and tech-led rivals abroad, particularly in the U.S. and China, where AI-driven mobility is advancing rapidly.

Von der Leyen proposed creating a network of European cities to serve as autonomous vehicle pilot zones, noting that 60 Italian mayors have already expressed interest in joining the initiative. She pledged EU support for vehicles “made in Europe, and made for European streets,” positioning AI innovation as a cornerstone of industrial revival and regional independence.

The announcement comes amid intense pressure on Europe’s automotive sector, which employs millions of workers and faces simultaneous demands to decarbonize and digitize. Von der Leyen argued that AI-driven transport could reduce congestion, connect rural communities, and preserve jobs by enabling a new ecosystem of European-designed mobility technologies.

Also speaking at the event were Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Ferrari and Stellantis Chairman John Elkann, and other global technology leaders—highlighting the deepening link between Silicon Valley innovation and Europe’s manufacturing transformation.

“The future of cars—and the cars of the future—must be made in Europe,” von der Leyen concluded, framing AI not as a threat but as the engine of Europe’s next industrial renaissance.

US Startup Lyten Acquires Europe’s Largest Battery Storage Factory in Poland

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U.S.-based startup Lyten is set to take full ownership of Northvolt Dwa ESS, the largest energy storage systems (ESS) factory in Europe, marking a major expansion of its operations and product offerings. The announcement was made Tuesday as Lyten confirmed plans to restart operations at the Gdansk-based facility immediately.

The acquisition follows the bankruptcy of Swedish battery maker Northvolt’s energy storage division, which filed for insolvency in March. The failure, one of Sweden’s biggest corporate collapses, dashed hopes of developing a strong European competitor to dominant Chinese battery manufacturers. Northvolt had originally shut down the Polish plant in November 2023.

“We plan to immediately restart operations in Poland and deliver on existing and new customer orders,” said Dan Cook, Lyten’s CEO and co-founder.

The 25,000-square-meter facility, which first opened in 2023, houses advanced equipment for manufacturing battery energy storage systems (BESS). It currently supports 6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of manufacturing capacity, with the potential to scale up to 10 GWh, according to Lyten’s statement. The company added that it already holds contracted orders extending into 2026.

The move positions Lyten as a key player in the European clean energy storage market, where demand for grid-scale battery storage is rapidly growing. The acquisition also offers Lyten a strong foothold in the EU’s strategic push for energy independence and decarbonization.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but completion is expected in the third quarter of 2025.

Global Tourism’s Growing Carbon Footprint Threatens Climate Goals, Research Shows

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The travel industry’s carbon footprint has been growing at an alarming rate, outpacing the overall global economy, according to new research published in Nature Communications. The rising demand for international travel has led to significant increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the past decade, with tourism-related emissions growing nearly twice as fast as the global economy, researchers say.

The study highlights that tourism in the top 20 emitting countries, including the United States, China, and India, is expanding by up to 5% annually, exacerbating energy consumption and CO2 emissions in these regions. These countries contribute to about three-quarters of the total tourism-related carbon footprint, underscoring the inequality in per-capita emissions.

Transportation, particularly air and ground travel, is identified as a primary contributor to these emissions. Despite some technological advancements aimed at improving fuel efficiency, slow progress in decarbonization continues to drive up the sector’s emissions. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted travel, reducing emissions by 60% in 2020, but tourism has rebounded strongly since, with growth expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.

In addition to regular commercial flights, private aviation has been a significant contributor. A separate study on private jet emissions found a 46% increase in CO2 emissions between 2019 and 2023. Private jets, which make up a small portion of total aviation, can have an outsized impact. For instance, major international events like COP28 and the FIFA World Cup saw a spike in private jet use, contributing thousands of metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere.

The broader impact of tourism on global emissions is troubling, with previous studies indicating that tourism contributes approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions—this number has likely grown since. The research stresses the urgent need for effective policies to curb tourism’s environmental impact and align the sector with global climate targets. However, only countries like New Zealand and Denmark are currently monitoring tourism-related emissions at the national level.

Tourism, worth an estimated $10 trillion in 2023, is one of the largest economic sectors globally, driving demand for transportation, accommodation, food, and shopping. The study emphasizes that the tourism industry’s expansion, coupled with its rising emissions, calls for immediate attention from governments and the global community to reduce its environmental impact.