The supported sectors
Overview and challenges of our sectors
CARA brings together 420 active members in one or more of the 6 sectors, supported within CARA.
Here is a brief description of each sector. For more information on the associated challenges, visit the dedicated pages.
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The Commercial Vehicle sector is facing numerous challenges that impact the transition towards tomorrow’s energy mix. A significant focus is placed on alternative energies, forcing manufacturers to rethink their vision and development towards reducing carbon footprint across the entire value chain.
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The French automotive industry is facing major challenges: vehicles that are safer, more environmentally friendly, more communicative, and automated. Innovation is accelerating in the automotive sector. The topic of skill development is also at the heart of the considerations of stakeholders in this industry.
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There are already many of these systems in cities across France, and we may see more in the near future, as is the case in the Parisian suburbs. Guided aerial transport, identified during the 2009 Environmental Round Table as a development opportunity for French cities, aligns with the challenges of mobility: decarbonization and digitization.
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With the largest inland waterway network in Europe, France must lead in the innovation of this transportation mode, which remains underutilized nationally. While this solution seems relevant due to its low energy consumption and the emerging logistics near cities, such as the Urban Logistics Hotel at the port of Lyon, it faces less stringent competition for manufacturers and carriers.
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Rail freight transportation is one of the development axes pursued by Europe in recent years. With a strategy to double traffic by 2030 across the European territory decided by the European Commission, the railway sector is booming. However, this requires stakeholders to accelerate their transformation to meet the expectations of industry (for freight), passengers, and policymakers.
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The French bicycle industry, currently undergoing structuring and development, is facing numerous challenges. The second Active Mobility and Bicycle Plan presented in September 2022 aims, in particular, to “Make cycling a lever for our economy by supporting stakeholders in the sector.”
The industry commissions
The four commissions within CARA are Automotive, Trucks & Bus, On Rail, and Bicycle & Micromobility. These commissions aim to:
- Bring up the specific needs of companies in each sector to national institutions.
- Contribute to the CARA action program throughout the year.
- Provide input to the animation team for the development of the N+1 action plan.
- Cascade down CARA actions and news to companies.
- Identify inter-sector links and common actions.
Inter-sector synergies
Over the years, CARA has gradually expanded its scope of intervention. As a result, there are now six sectors animated within CARA (Automotive, Industrial Vehicle, Guided Air Transport, Inland Waterway, Railway, Bicycle & Micromobility).
To enable companies to face new challenges, CARA offers them innovative means and tailored tools such as collaborative R&D approaches or real-world experimentation. Furthermore, CARA’s ambition is to facilitate inter- and intra-sector collaboration and the sharing of experiences. The objective is also to support the development of collective actions, partnerships, and synergies within the framework of calls for projects, ensuring the visibility of actors, sectors, and their actions.
