It is obvious that with the advent of the electric car there are its supporters, but also its opponents. Arguments for or against the electric car are put forward from each side. Acceptable arguments in most cases, sometimes a little less often.

On the side of the “detractors”, but not only that, several voices were raised a few years ago potential “destruction” of jobs with the transition to electric cars. And not only detractors of these cars sounded the alarm.

Indeed, several professional organizations, starting with the Automobile Platform or even Mobilians for France, or even the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, have warned of the risk of mass job cuts in Europe due to the rapid transition to battery-powered cars.

Manufacturers of equipment on the front line

These fears were expressed a few years ago, we could forget about them or even call them “pessimistic”, but in 2023. it seems that these fears are very real today.

For this, it is not necessary to look at large, advertised car groups, but rather among equipment manufacturers, so to speak, “organ donors” of the industry. Away from the media radar, several small plants of major equipment manufacturers have closed, resulting in job losses.

In a few weeks, two examples appeared that illustrated the situation, with Bosch and Marelli. As for Bosch, a factory near Aranjuez, near Madrid, is under threat of closure because it only produces components for heat engines. 400 jobs may be at risk. José Antonio García Ontalba, director of public relations for Bosch Spain, put forward a ratio of 1 to 10 in the number of jobs for the production of an electric motor compared to a heat engine.

At Marelli, we plan to close the heat engine components factory in Crevalcor, near Bologna. About 230 jobs are directly at risk. In the case of the two above-mentioned institutions, the phase of studying reindustrialization options for another sector of activity is in the works, but at the moment without certainty. Remember, however, that certain European governments have introduced conversion aid programs for some affected factories, but will this be enough to stop the problem?

And it’s not just the energy transition that’s creating a problem for equipment manufacturers, as there’s also inflation where rising costs are hard to pass on to customers. In France, equipment manufacturer Autoliv, specializing in airbags and seat belts, plans to cut about 320 jobs, or 20% of the workforce. To make matters worse, in Europe the equipment maker has already announced the closure of its Elmshorn plant in Germany in 2025, and the Congleton plant in the UK is also under threat.

Why can electric cars “destroy” jobs?

Remember that the “destruction” of EV-related jobs can be caused by several factors. Industry experts usually identify five factors that can cause this phenomenon:

• Reduction of labor associated with heat engines : Electric cars are generally mechanically simpler than gasoline or diesel cars because they have fewer moving parts. This means they require less maintenance, which can reduce the demand for mechanics, auto repair technicians and other jobs related to internal combustion engines.
• Changes in production : the production of electric cars requires different skills than cars with a heat engine. Electric vehicle production lines are often automated, which can reduce labor demand directly at assembly plants. This can also be attributed to the technological advances that are going the way of the electric car.
• Impact on the oil and gas industry : The transition to electric vehicles could reduce demand for oil and gas, which could affect jobs in these sectors, including exploration, production and distribution.
• Reorientation of the workforce : While the development of electric vehicles may reduce the number of jobs in sectors related to traditional mobility, it may also create new jobs in the fields of batteries, technology, energy management, electric vehicle research and development, and construction. charging infrastructure.
• Gradual transition : the transition to electric cars is happening gradually, car manufacturers are also investing in the development of hybrid cars. This means that jobs related to heat engines will not disappear immediately, but will develop over time.

Read also:
Honda brings back color in Europe
He invents a motorcycle that runs… on water!
Google wants to make driving electric cars easier