The European Parliament announced its negotiating position on Euro 7 standards, aimed at addressing road transport emissions for various vehicle categories, including passenger cars, vans, buses, and trucks yesterday, 10 November.
With 329 votes in favour, 230 against, and 41 abstentions, the Parliament’s position indicates a measured approach to updating EU regulations for type-approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles.
The proposed Euro 7 standards encompass revisions to current exhaust emission limits, the introduction of measures to reduce emissions from tires and brakes, and an emphasis on enhancing battery durability.
Notably, the Parliament supports pollutant emission levels for passenger cars as proposed by the Commission and introduces a nuanced breakdown of emissions for light commercial vehicles based on their weight.
Additionally, the proposal advocates for stricter limits on exhaust emissions for buses and heavy-duty vehicles, aligning the EU’s calculations with international standards for brake particle emissions and tire abrasion rates.
“We have successfully struck a balance between environmental goals and the vital interests of manufacturers. It would be counterproductive to implement environmental policies that harm both Europe’s industry and its citizens. Through our compromise, we serve the interests of all parties involved and steer clear of extreme positions,” commented rapporteur Alexandr Vondra on the announcement.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) acknowledged the European Parliament’s vote on Euro 7 with a call for a realistic approach.
While recognizing the Parliament’s more measured stance compared to the European Commission’s initial proposal, ACEA underscored the substantial investment Euro 7 represents for vehicle manufacturers:
“The fact remains that Euro 7 represents a significant investment for vehicle manufacturers, on top of their huge decarbonisation efforts,” stated ACEA Director General, Sigrid de Vries. “It also comes in an extraordinarily challenging geopolitical and economic context, marked by soaring energy prices, supply chain shortages, inflationary pressures, and lagging consumer demand. Europe needs a proportionate Euro 7 that balances environmental concerns and industrial competitiveness.”
ACEA emphasized the need for a proportionate Euro 7 that balances environmental concerns with the competitiveness of the automotive industry.
The organisation believes that it makes sense to address brake and tyre emissions with Euro 7, as these are also relevant to electric vehicles and will be the main source of road transport emissions in the future. However, as the testing methods for non-exhaust emissions are completely new and untested, the technical feasibility of these new targets needs to be ensured.