Outlining policy responses to stimulate automotive car demand by environmental impact reduction

The aim of this paper is to propose an alternative approach for outlining policy responses to stimulate the automotive industry. The scientific community has been involved by the Delphi method in order to collect and convey perspectives and impressions and define a number of financially viable proposals. The panel of experts takes the view that traditional industrial policy measures denote limited effects to stimulate car demand, in a context of macro-economic downturn. By contrast, the panel also believe incentives for car demand are important for environmental purposes, for safety and for the diversification of energy sources. The policy measures proposed are fundamental from the viewpoint of overturning path dependencies in the automotive industry which impede the diffusion of alternative vehicles, with respect to business models and consumer attitudes.