Euro 7 agreement: industry welcomes planning certainty but flags technical and investment challenges

“Although we will only understand the full details once we can assess the entire document, we note that the inter-institutional negotiators have principally opted to prioritise future-oriented challenges, such as light-duty vehicle brake emissions and electric vehicle battery requirements. Exhaust emission limits and test procedures for heavy-duty vehicles were significantly tightened as well,” stated Sigrid de Vries, ACEA Director General.  

The European vehicle industry welcomes the planning certainty. To ensure sufficient lead times, we now count on the European Commission’s support to deliver robust secondary legislation as swiftly as possible. “It is important to note that many of the new provisions bring significant technical and investment challenges at a crucial time in the zero-emission mobility transformation,” de Vries added. As key elements are still to be decided through secondary legislation, we will continue working to ensure a realistic Euro 7, within the limitations imposed by the primary legislation.”  

De Vries: “We should not underestimate the huge progress made by European vehicle manufacturers in reducing pollutant emissions from road transport. Indeed, between the first Euro standard and the first version of Euro 6, emissions were slashed by over 90%. The greatest improvements in air quality will be achieved by replacing older vehicles on EU roads and rapid electrification.” 

Between the first Euro standard and the first version of Euro 6, emissions were slashed by over 90%. The greatest improvements in air quality will be achieved by replacing older vehicles on EU roads and rapid electrification.