Euro 7: What’s changing for Europe’s car industry and the diesel question
The upcoming Euro 7 emission standard remains largely undefined, with full details still awaiting formal formulation. European authorities expected to approve the framework in autumn 2022, and the rule should start to apply around 2025 or 2026. This uncertainty creates tension for car manufacturers planning long-cycle investments.
Beyond the anticipated 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles, the near-term challenge lies in Euro 7 itself. Within the next three to four years, automakers must adapt to new limits. At present, the specifics are not clear, but it is clear that diesel engines will face restrictions that rules out their compatibility with Euro 7.
In essence, Euro 7 could mark the end of the era for diesel technology in Europe. Gasoline engines are not automatically safe, either. A key issue will be how to manage cold-start emissions, which may push manufacturers to adopt new heating systems or other thermal strategies to minimize pollutants when engines start from cold conditions.
Manufacturers favor early access to Euro 7 details to align research, development, and supply chains with anticipated limits. Yet the European Commission delayed formal adoption beyond the fourth quarter of 2021 and did not implement the plan on July 20, 2022, prolonging the planning horizon for vehicle makers and component suppliers alike.
Trade associations representing European car builders have urged the European Commission to consider the industry’s substantial investments aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The core message is that progress must be balanced with the realities of existing commitments, funding challenges, and the need to safeguard jobs and regional competitiveness. In other words, there is a call to slow the pace of change to avoid unnecessary disruption while continuing the transition to cleaner mobility.