Proposal for a Regulation on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7) and repealing Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009

Summary:

Legislative initiative - tabled by the European Commission on 10 November 2022 - concerning type-approval of motor vehicles and engines and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7). This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

Free movement of goods, persons, services and capital must be ensured for a correct functioning of the single market in the European Union (EU). To that end, Regulation (EU) No 2018/858 enshrines a comprehensive type-approval and market surveillance system for motor vehicles, trailers, and for systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles. The technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with regard to emissions are also harmonised to avoid requirements that differ from one Member State to another, and to ensure a high level of environmental and health protection.

Air pollution remains a large environmental and health risk in Europe. As part of its comprehensive approach, the European Green Deal announced an initiative aimed at more stringent air pollutant emissions standards for combustion-engine vehicles (Euro 7). Despite the strategies and proposals put forward to address the challenges, a low-pollution level in the short- and medium-term cannot be reached for pollutant emissions from road transport without further actions.

This draft law addresses three identified problems why the Euro 6 emission standards contribute insufficiently to the reduction of pollutant emissions from road transport - complexity of vehicle emission standards; obsolete vehicle pollutant limits; insufficient control of vehicle real-world emissions. The specific objectives of this initiative are as follows:

• Reduce complexity of the current Euro emission standards;
• Provide up-to-date limits for all relevant air pollutants;
• Improve control of real-world emissions.

The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 10 November 2022, and it also seeks to repeal Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Regulation (EC) No 595/2009.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA): Publications, 28/01/2022: ACEA proposals for Euro 7 and Euro VII emission standards https://www.acea.auto/publication/acea-proposals-for-euro-7-and-euro-vii-emission-standards/

Politico: Sponsored Content, 09/06/2022: Euro 7/VII — the missing puzzle piece for improving air quality in Europe https://www.politico.eu/sponsored-content/euro-7-vii-the-missing-puzzle-piece-for-improving-air-quality-in-europe/

Transport&Environment: Letter, 01/07/2022: ‘Publish the Euro 7 air quality standards without delay’ https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/publish-the-euro-7-air-quality-standards-without-delay/

European Public Health Alliance (EPHA): When open letters work: publication of the EU proposal on pollution emission standards for vehicles (31 August 2022) https://epha.org/when-open-letters-work-publication-of-the-eu-proposal-on-pollution-emission-standards-for-vehicles/

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA): Factsheet, 07/11/2022: Euro’ pollutant emission standards https://www.acea.auto/fact/fact-sheet-the-euro-pollutant-emission-standards/

European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA): Mediaroom, 10/11/2022: Euro 7 proposal: A significant step towards higher ambition, but technical challenges a concern https://clepa.eu/mediaroom/euro-7-proposal-a-significant-step-towards/

International Road Transport Union (IRU): News, 11/11/2022: IRU welcomes Euro 7 rules for all vehicle technologies, but clarity needed https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/iru-welcomes-euro-7-rules-all-vehicle-technologies-clarity-needed

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News

EurActiv, 23/05/2022: Toxic particles from brakes to be included in ‘Euro 7’ emission rules https://www.euractiv.com/section/electric-cars/news/toxic-particles-from-brakes-to-be-included-in-euro-7-emission-rules/

Politico, 20/10/2022: Carmakers get a pollution break after fierce lobbying in Brussels https://www.politico.eu/article/draft-eu-law-gives-carmakers-a-break-on-pollutants/

The Guardian, 21/10/2022: 100m highly polluting cars could appear on Europe’s roads after EU move https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/21/100m-highly-polluting-cars-could-appear-on-europes-roads-after-eu-move

Auto Express: News, 24/10/2022: Euro 7 emission standards to be less drastic than expected, leaked legislation suggests https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/106870/euro-7-emission-standards-be-less-drastic-expected-leaked-legislation-suggests

Reuters, 25/10/2022: Stellantis CEO: Europe auto emissions standards a "diversion" https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/stellantis-ceo-euro-7-standards-are-diversion-2022-10-25/

Politico, 04/11/2022: EU to go easy on deadly car pollution https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-car-pollution-co2-emissions-rules/

Bloomberg, 09/11/2022: EU to Propose Rules for Last Generation of Combustion Engines https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-09/eu-to-propose-rules-for-last-generation-of-combustion-engines

EurActiv, 10/11/2022: EU tightens road vehicle pollution standards ahead of electric switch https://www.euractiv.com/section/electric-cars/news/eu-tightens-road-vehicle-pollution-standards-ahead-of-electric-switch/

Reuters, 10/11/2022: EU proposes tighter vehicle pollution emission standards https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-proposes-tighter-vehicle-pollution-emission-standards-2022-11-10/

RTÉ News, 10/11/2022: EU proposes new emissions standard for road vehicles https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/1110/1335304-europe-emissions-standard/

The Brussels Times, 13/11/2022: Opinions divided over efficiency of latest EU emissions standard https://www.brusselstimes.com/320756/opinions-divided-over-efficiency-of-latest-eu-emissions-standard

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)358: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Subsidiarity Grid https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:358:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)359: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:359:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)360: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:360:FIN

European Commission: DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs: Automotive Industry https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/automotive-industry_en

European Commission: Press Release, 10/11/2022: Commission proposes new Euro 7 standards to reduce pollutant emissions from vehicles and improve air quality https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6495

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Commission proposal on the new Euro 7 standards (10 November 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_22_6496

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