In a world of massive automobile production, over 75 million vehicles, the traditional west European manufacturing nations are increasingly irrelevant. Within the EU manufacturing has moved to the cheap labour countries of Eastern Europe at the expense of traditional manufacturing countries like France and Britain which are stuck at production levels of three decades ago. Germany is the exception. If the bureaucrats of Brussels decide to strangle petrol and diesel engine production in favour of a green ideal, that will simply make the EU products even less relevant on a world market dominated by Asian production and in which alternative powered vehicles are but a very small part. But that will not happen. German makers will simply move their engine manufacture offshore to service the rest of the world.
It is a mistake to view the EU as in any way homogenous and as stresses increase it will have an uncertain future. The EU runs a highly restrictive sheltered workshop economic system under heavy trade protections. German manufacturers have already moved production within the EU to lower wage countries and produce for export elsewhere. Europeans are only allowed the buying choices Brussels allows for them. Which includes a fair share of cheap junk and low quality. An increasingly irrelevant German dominated trading bloc that is in no way a world economic leader.
Depends on who you listen to. You have a favourable view of the EU, many do not, both residents and those who trade with them. The EU is not a good citizen in trade matters. Australia weathered the GFC far better than many and for example doesn't have the entrenched youth unemployment of France. EU agricultural policies are highly restrictive, deliver some surprisingly poor quality food and damage stable world trade by subsidised dumping. Australia has nothing positive to learn from the EU.