On February 26, 2026, the first edition of the Drive2Transform Policy Forum took place – a European dialogue format that brings together policy representatives, economic experts, and project stakeholders from more than nine Central European regions. The forum was organized by the Regional Development Agencyof the Pilsen Region (Czechia) in cooperation with the Cluster Mobility & Logistics (TechBase Regensburg), the overall coordinator of the EU project. Filip Uhlík, Director of the Regional Development Agency Pilsen, moderated the event.
The forum is part of the Interreg Central Europe project Drive2Transform, which accompanies the transformation of the automotive and supplier industry in Central Europe – from electrification and autonomous driving to platform-based business models. It is based on the Transformation Readiness Index, which is based on a survey of 140 companies from nine regions.
Forum program
Welcome & introduction Moderator Filip Uhlík, Director of the Regional Development Agency of the Pilsen Region
Opening speech & regional perspective Bavaria Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary in the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
Classification & regional perspective Czechia Peter Knap, EY Consulting – Analysis of megatrends and strategic challenges
Open forum & discussion Interactive exchange with political representatives and stakeholders from over nine European regions
Opening speech: State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt
State Secretary for Economic Affairs Tobias Gotthardt kicked off the forum with a clear message: Central Europe is a deeply interconnected economic area – development in Bavaria, production in Austria and Hungary, suppliers spread across the entire continent. The current transformation through decarbonization, electrification, and digitalization affects all regions equally.
“We need innovative strength, investment, and close European cooperation to ensure that value creation and jobs remain in Bavaria and Central Europe. Drive2Transform provides an important basis for this.”
— Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary
Gotthardt emphasized the reality of intra-European competition between locations – driven by different national subsidy policies and varying wage and energy costs. His appeal: a genuine level playing field in which innovation and quality determine success.
Strategic classification: Peter Knap (EY Consulting)
Peter Knap from EY Consulting provided a comprehensive analysis of the strategic situation of the Central European automotive industry. The focus is increasingly shifting from pure e-mobility to software-defined vehicles (SDV) – software as a key driver of innovation. At the same time, the overall European market is still around two million vehicles below pre-coronavirus levels.
E-mobility & market Pure electric vehicles are met with skepticism worldwide – infrastructure gaps are giving hybrid models a temporary boost. The key lies in convincing the pragmatic majority.
China factor China is now the world's largest car exporter. Brands such as BYD are investing heavily in EU production with a target of 1.5 to 2 million vehicles.
Autonomous driving Users accept assistance systems but are hesitant about Level 3. Europe is currently lagging behind the international competition in terms of development.
Suppliers under pressure Central Europe remains a strong production location, but suppliers at lower levels in particular are struggling with fluctuations in margins and demand.
Knapp's strategic call: Europe must move away from fragmented individual policies and toward a unified approach—a “Clean Tech Transport Valley” with a focus on software, recycling, and competitive energy.
Open Forum: Voices from across Europe
The forum centered on an open, interactive exchange between participants from numerous European regions. Political decision-makers from all participating project regions were represented, as were representatives from Interreg Central Europe, the German Interreg Contact Point, and UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization).
The discussion was characterized by a broad spectrum of perspectives and a clear willingness to engage in cross-border cooperation.
A central topic was the speed gap with China: Chinese development cycles of six months to two years contrast with European cycles of > several years – an imbalance that is further exacerbated by China's higher investments in the energy transition. At the same time, regulatory hurdles were pointed out, such as outdated licensing regulations that slow down innovative solutions such as driverless shuttles, as well as digital barriers that make cross-border mobility solutions difficult.
Areas such as defense and aviation technology, medical technology, and the circular economy were identified as opportunities for diversification. Participants also discussed the further development of innovation clusters into “living labs” – moving away from pure networking groups toward infrastructure-driven test environments, for example in tourism regions for autonomous shuttles.
Outlook: Continuation in March and April 2026
The Policy Forum on February 26 was the first of three events. The other editions will take place in March and April 2026 – each with expert contributions and open discussion in the European policy context. Information on the next date will follow shortly.
We would like to thank all participants for their committed and productive exchange and look forward to continuing the European dialogue!
About Drive2Transform: The Drive2Transform project (CE0200679) is funded by the Interreg Central Europe program. Overall coordination is handled by the Cluster Mobility & Logistics (TechBase Regensburg GmbH). The project supports SMEs and policy makers in nine Central European regions in coping with structural change in the automotive industry – from June 2024 to November 2026, with EU funding of just under 1.8 million euros.