ASA in 2024: Innovation and transformation in automotive skills

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As the holiday season approaches and the year comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved together in 2024. This year has been one of transformation, collaboration, and growth for the Automotive Skills Alliance, as we’ve worked to empower the automotive workforce for a greener, more digital future. Let’s have a look back at the highlights of 2024!

The Automotive Skills Alliance (ASA) reaffirmed its commitment to upskilling and reskilling the European automotive workforce in 2024. Through projects, conferences, study visits, vocational education and training forums, and active participation in Pact for Skills action, ASA has played a key role in shaping a continuous and initial education and training ecosystem prepared for the green and digital transitions.

Through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts, ASA remained aligned with the European Union’s mission to empower professionals to adapt to and thrive in an ever-evolving mobility landscape.

ASA celebrated four years of impactful contributions in November 2024, the organization continues to set the standard for skills innovation in the automotive sector. By fostering collaboration, leveraging technology, and aligning training initiatives with industry trends, ASA ensures Europe’s workforce is prepared for a sustainable and digital future.

Key Achievements in 2024: Milestones at a Glance

ASA’s position and commitment to European collaboration were reaffirmed at the ASA Annual Conference, “Skills (R)Evolution in the Automotive-Mobility Ecosystem,” held on April 10 in Brussels, which also marked the official launch of the TRIREME project – a four-year ERASMUS+ blueprint collaboration under ASA’s leadership. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, educators, social partners, and regional representatives to explore challenges and opportunities in the automotive-mobility sector, with a focus on transforming skills intelligence and training to build a resilient workforce for the green and digital transition.

ASA’s contributions to EU ERASMUS+ projects this year showcased its dedication to bridging the skills gap and driving innovation across the automotive-mobility sector:

  • TRIREME project: Kicked off this year, uniting 31 partners from 13 countries with a common goal: update the skills needs in the sector to reflect what education and training is needed and develop pilots of cutting-edge training programs and align workforce skills with green and digital transitions.
  • FLAMENCO project: Focused on innovative collaboration methods on the skills agenda topics to ensure efficient and sustainable practices across the industry.
  • PASS project: Successfully certified over 100 professionals in key competencies (soft skills) in the automotive-mobility ecosystem, utilizing innovative assessment methods.
  • PIECE project: Advanced research and training preparation focusing on Battery Digital Product Passports, promoting battery circularity and enhancing vocational training.

ASA’s Skills Hub and Learning Platform widened their offer, functions and reach in 2024, providing a comprehensive network and range of courses designed to meet the automotive sector’s emerging needs:

  • Battery sector training: Courses on safety, lifecycle management, and sustainability.
  • Cybersecurity training: Programs spanning beginner to advanced levels, specifically designed for the industry.
  • Future-ready automotive training: Covering energy efficiency, circular economy fundamentals, and digital transformation.
  • Manufacturing & systems training: Offering insights into battery production, system integration, and EU policies.

With over 180 courses from various providers and academies now available, as well as more than 60 online free courses, ASA continues to empower professionals and students with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle industry challenges and support new innovation and opportunities.

In 2024, ASA further continued in its commitment and role as a key stakeholder network supporting collaboration on skills and workforce topics among automotive regions towards a successful green and digital transition by facilitating knowledge sharing and best practices:

  • Regional Implementation Working Group: Organized three working group meetings with the objective of facilitating collaboration of 15 member regions of the ASA.
  • Regional study visits: Hosted in Grand Est, France, fostering exchange on the good practices and collaboration on workforce transformation and innovation.
  • Workshops and forums: Co-organized events such as the Hydrogen VET Forum in Belgium, providing educators with essential tools for training in emerging technologies.
  • Co-organisation of the BaTT VET Forums – in May, in Sweden and in November, in Portugal. The events featured expert-led lectures, hands-on workshops, networking opportunities and visits.
  • EURegionsWeek workshop: Organized within the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024 together with the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) and the Committee of the Regions´ intergroup for the future of the automotive industry (CoRAI). The session highlighted talent development strategies tailored to regional needs, supporting localized workforce development.
  • Reinforcement of the cooperation with ARA and CoRAI based in the common Working agreement, as well as by active participation in the third annual conference of ARA in Monza, Italy.
  • Advancing the regional best practice exchange through the structured collaboration of various stakeholders within the TRIREME project partnership.

Additionally, throughout the year, ASA President and ASA representatives delivered speeches in key events participated in high-profile forums like:

  • The workshop “Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities in the EU Transport Labour Market” was hosted by the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism on Jan 23, 2024. Together with guest expert speakers, ASA President, addressed the topic of various transport modes and highlighted the crucial role of skills development in preparing the transport sector for the future as well as the need to attract younger talent to the industry and increase gender diversity.
  • On 18-19 March 2024, ASA President engaged with representatives from diverse European automotive regions at the Summit of Regions and Cities. Together with its partners – the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) and the Committee of the Region’s Automotive Intergroup (CoRAI), – ASA had the pleasure to introduce activities of its networks to a wide audience from Europe´s cities and regions at the presentation stand.
  • At the Pact for Skills Forum, on 21-22 March 2024 ASA was present at the enriching discussion in which commissioners Nicolas Schmit and Thierry Breton. Highlighting the importance of the Pact for Skills from DG EMPL and DG GROW and participated in a great panel discussion during the event.
  • The ALBATTS final Conference held in Brussels on April 9, 2024, showcased policy recommendations and insights from 4 years of research, focusing on future skills and job needs in the evolving battery value chain.
  • On March 6th, during the Energy Week Vaasa event, Jakub Stolfa delivered a presentation focusing on skills and workforce-related topics in the battery sector, the results of the ALBATTS project, and its continuation in the Automotive Skills Alliance.  
  • On June 14th, General Assembly and Members’s Day of European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) in the panel discussion.
  • June 25th, OECD Local Skills Week 2024, advocating for robust policies to strengthen Europe’s talent pipeline.
  • Within the 31st EuroSPI conference, where participants explored the latest in software and systems process improvements, ASA President delivered a keynote speech, focusing on the challenges and solutions of the automotive-mobility skills agenda. He also introduced the Erasmus+ Blueprint Project TRIREME, outlining its goals to address skills gaps and develop new training courses tailored to the sector’s evolving needs.
  • On Dec 3 During the Automotive Regions Alliance Annual Conference held in Monza, ASA’s President highlighted the vital role of regional collaboration in driving forward the skills agenda, which is key to equipping the workforce with skills needed for the twin transitions.
  • On Dec 9th, ASA representatives participated in a panel discussion titled “The Next Generation Workforce: Skills for Europe’s Zero-Emission Journey” organized in Brussels within the Future Driven Experience pop-up by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). They emphasized the need for actionable collaboration of all actors across the industry and education providers to address the growing skills gap and ensure the workforce is prepared for the demands of the digital and green transitions.

ASA’s engagement with European leadership in 2024 further supported its role as a key voice in shaping of the skills topics of the automotive industry:

Looking Ahead

Building on the achievements and progress made thus far, it is essential to recognize that we are still in the early stages of this journey. To ensure continued advancement, we must focus on maintaining momentum, scaling up our impact, and fostering deeper collaboration. This forward-looking perspective is encapsulated in the ASA Position Paper, which outlines the key priorities of the skills agenda while also providing a strategic roadmap for future actions.

The year ahead promises exciting events and continued collaboration within the updated ASA structure, featuring Topic Committees, various Working Groups, and Task Forces. Here are some key highlights for coming months:

  • ASA Annual Conference 2025: Mark your calendars for 8th April 2025 in Ostrava, Czechia.
  • ASA Study Visit: Join us in Romania on 12–13 May 2025.
  • BattForum for VET Teachers: two sessions are planned:
    • Finland in May 2025
    • Czechia in October 2025
  • H2VET Forum: The forum will continue in May to bring valuable insights to the community.

Stay tuned and remain an active part of the ASA community!

Explore the ASA Website, join the working groups and task forces, browse through the Learning Platform and Skills Hub, and become part of the revolution driving the future skills agenda in the automotive-mobility ecosystem.