Ministers of industry from the European Union signed a political agreement on Monday that paves the way for the Euro 7 regulation. This new framework will govern polluting emissions from motor vehicles — cars, vans, trucks, and buses — as well as the durability of engines, brakes, tires, and batteries. The text is currently under discussion between the Council and the European Parliament, and it hints at a reduced ambition from the European Commission by delaying specific requirements meant to shield the European car industry from global pressures.
“Our aim is to keep leading the mobility transition while setting realistic emission targets for vehicles in the coming decade, and help the industry move decisively toward non-polluting cars by 2035,” summarized the Deputy Minister of Industry, who chairs the meeting. In his remarks, he noted that the auto sector faces unprecedented challenges due to the war in Ukraine, limited access to raw materials, and rising energy costs, and he recalled a certain historical milestone from seven decades ago that the new agreement seeks to address in today’s context.
“With these factors in mind, it was crucial in the Euro 7 talks to strike a balance between improving air quality and protecting human health, and ensuring that Europe’s car industry stays competitive on the world stage,” he said, noting that the proposal has sparked substantial discussion and opposition. France, the Czech Republic, and Poland — along with the industry itself — eventually backed the agreement.
The industry is satisfied
Ultimately, the agreement was welcomed as a constructive step forward. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) regards the compromise achieved under the Spanish EU presidency as progress. ACEA’s chief executive highlighted that Euro 7, compared with current rules, offers far broader requirements for new cars, light-duty vehicles, and especially heavy vehicles, calling for rigorous engineering and testing. This will necessitate significant additional investments from the industry at a time when resources are already committed to decarbonization. The emphasis on the 2035 deadline for phasing out gasoline, diesel, and hybrid cars was also cited as a key context for the industry’s planning.
The EU began setting vehicle emission limits in 1992 and has progressively tightened them over time. The Monday agreement maintains the existing test conditions and the current Euro 6 limits for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. For heavy vehicles such as buses and coaches, emission limits are reduced with only minimal adjustments to testing conditions. There are also references to the proposed zero-CO2 target for city buses under the new framework.
Brakes and tires
The regulation’s most notable innovation is its expansion of emission limits to account not only for exhaust pollution but also for wear from brakes and tires. These wear limits will align with international standards set by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The rule also sets timelines for the European Commission to adopt implementing acts, providing businesses with clearer legal certainty. The Commission initially targeted July 1, 2025, as the entry-into-force date. That deadline was deemed overly ambitious and impractical by many member states, who urged postponement. The presidency proposes that the regulation take effect 30 months after adoption for private vehicles and passenger cars, and 42 months after adoption for heavy vehicles, subject to ongoing negotiations with the Parliament.