Karl-Thomas Neumann, head of Opel and president of GM Europe, used a pre-Frankfurt conference to press for closer co-operation across the automotive industry.

Speaking at Future Summit, organised by Die Zeit magazine in collaboration with Opel, he urged joined up thinking to tackle urbanisation, increasing energy prices and ageing populations.

He predicted that the basic requirements of vehicle manufacturing in 25 years time will be much the same as today: cars that are safe, affordable, comfortable and sustainable.

“People want smaller cars that are inexpensive and attractive," he said. “There will be limitations to personal mobility and we will see more and more car sharing.”

He called on governments to do more to connect private mobility and public transport, adding that politicians in Brussels must ‘stop playing poker’ with the industry in terms of sustainability.

“It's not right that one car maker can be fined for missing CO2 targets by 1gm while other industries can trade green licences," he said.