ACEA Elects PSA Chief as New President

BRUSSELS – Europe’s auto makers name PSA Peugeot Citroen CEO Christian Streiff to replace Fiat Automobiles SpA’s Sergio Marchionne as president of the European Automobile Manufacturers Assn. (ACEA), effective Jan 1.

Streiff, 53, a French engineer by trade, will represent the European Union’s 13 major car, truck and bus manufacturers. He joined PSA’s managing board at the start of 2007.

“I’m honored to be ACEA’s next president and look forward to representing the industry in ongoing dialogues about such subjects as growth and mobility, road safety and climate change,” Streiff says.

In a period when the car industry complains of being over-regulated, Streiff also promises to intensify the association’s lobbying effort with the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, which currently is drafting carbon-dioxide emissions legislation that could prove unpopular with ACEA members.

The auto makers employ about 2.3 million people directly in the 27-member bloc and supports another 10 million workers indirectly.