Carlos Tavares, the chairman of the managing board of the PSA Group, has been appointed president of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) for 2018.

Tavares will take over the presidency from Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, who served as ACEA president for two consecutive terms in 2016 and 2017.

Commenting on his appointment and his key focus areas, Tavares said: “Top priorities for 2018 include setting out an ambitious but realistic future pathway to bring down CO2 emissions, further improving our safety track record, and protecting and enhancing the competitiveness of the European automobile industry.”

ACEA’s president is elected for a year-long term, once renewable, from the CEOs, presidents or chairmen of its member companies.

Carlos Tavares, a graduate of Ecole Centrale de Paris, held a number of different positions with the Renault Group from 1981 to 2004, before joining Nissan where he served as executive vice-president, chairman of the Management Committee Americas and president of Nissan North America from 2009. He was named Group Chief Operating Office of Renault in 2011. Tavares was appointed chairman of the Managing Board of Groupe PSA in March 2014.

ACEA represents the 14 Europe-based car, van, truck and bus manufacturers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford of Europe, Groupe PSA, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars, and Volvo Group.