On March 11th, the first Valeo Forum assembled nearly 200 political and industrial deciders and researchers for a round table on “The Car and the City”. Guests were able to directly interact with the panel of six experts leading the debate, set in the emblematic decor of the Automobile Club de France. The lively discussion continued over dinner.

The event opened with the statement that cities and their vitality are keys to the global economy. But the more attractive cities are, the more they draw in large populations. For the experts present, the great challenge of the first decades of 21st century will be the 2,000 cities to build in emerging countries for an average of one million inhabitants within the next 25 years. The stakes are not only technological or environmental; they are also political, diplomatic, sociological and economic.

A global, systemic approach is clearly called for and the experts reviewed existing solutions, whether in terms of city policies, or technological measures implemented by carmakers and suppliers, which are already making significant inroads in reducing CO2 emissions. After a debate on the merits of vehicle taxation as an anti-pollution tool and invoking images of the city car of the future, the panelists also took a look at the latest research on biofuels, the electric car and the fuel cell. Although electricity stands out as the “fuel” for tomorrow, improvements to the internal combustion engine must be pursued, as it will still prevail for a number of years ahead.

In the face of the exponential growth of urban populations and of the number of cars in circulation, the experts participating in this 1st Valeo Forum encouraged the players present to pursue their research regarding “traditional” vehicles, but advocated more vigorous knowledge sharing and coordination to learn how to reconcile the car and the city.