ACEA launches CEE Hub to amplify regional automotive voice

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), in partnership with national automotive associations from Czechia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, has officially launched the ACEA Central and Eastern European Automotive Hub (CEE Hub), a new initiative to elevate the region’s influence in EU policymaking.

The move marks a strategic milestone in aligning one of Europe’s most vital industrial regions with Brussels. The CEE Hub is designed to strengthen cooperation between ACEA and national associations, ensuring that Central and Eastern Europe’s automotive priorities are better integrated into EU-level decisions.

“Central and Eastern Europe is home to around a third of EU vehicle production and employs around two million people across the value chain,” said Sigrid de Vries, Director General of ACEA.

“With the ACEA CEE Automotive Hub, we’re taking an important step toward closer cooperation and ensuring that national insights from this region are better reflected in EU-level discussions.”

Coordinated by the Czech Automotive Industry Association (AutoSAP), the Hub will provide structured political intelligence, support coordinated regional action, and enhance outreach on key EU legislation, particularly as the bloc accelerates its transition to zero-emission mobility.

“This is about making our region an integral part of EU policy conversations – a strategic voice and not just a production base,” added Zdeněk Petzl, Executive Director of AutoSAP.

“The Hub gives us the structure to work more effectively together and to speak with more clarity when it counts.”

The launch comes at a critical time for the European automotive sector, which faces growing regulatory, technological, and economic pressures. By unifying Central and Eastern Europe’s voice, the Hub aims to strengthen the region’s role in shaping a competitive and resilient automotive future for the EU.