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However, when looking at the state of the EU’s car fleet, new vehicles with the latest technology represent only 5 per cent of all cars on our roads. Furthermore, the average car is already 9.7 years old at the moment, and its age is still rising. Current CO2 legislation fails to address the vast majority of vehicles, as targets exclusively focus on new vehicle sales. By making a strong case for faster fleet renewal, ERTICO’s findings underline the need to reverse this trend.But connecting cars with each other is not enough; they also need intelligent infrastructure. That is why ACEA is calling on policy makers to invest in the more effective deployment of appropriate infrastructure. This does not only relate to roads, bridges or other construction projects. There is also great need to improve connectivity infrastructure, capable of handling millions of data points per second for millions of cars around the world in the decades to come. It is therefore vital to improve the coverage and reliability of mobile networks, and to promote the fast rollout of high-speed broadband. The European automotive industry continues to invest in driving down emissions, but it is obvious that a more holistic approach is necessary to address all the aspects that affect emissions during the use phase of a car. Manufacturers by definition do not have all of the answers to questions about how cars are used by consumers. Involving all relevant stakeholders in reducing CO2 emissions will not only allow us to reduce road transport emissions, but it will also ensure that Europe’s strategic automotive industry retains its competitiveness in the decades to come. ■ABOUT THE AUTHORErik Jonnaert is Secretary General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Mr Jonnaert began his career with the Linklaters law firm. He subsequently joined Procter & Gamble, where he worked for 25 years in public and regulatory affairs, communications and stakeholder relations. Before joining ACEA, he was Procter & Gamble’s Vice President for External Relations in Europe and Asia. Mr Jonnaert is a graduate of Harvard Law School. ABOUT ACEAThe European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 15 European motor vehicle manufacturers at the EU level, providing technical and industrial expertise for the policy-making process. ACEA’s members are: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford of Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco, Jaguar Land Rover, Opel Group, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars, Volvo Group.Above: Erik JonnaertTRANSPORT AND MOBILITY 103