The Council has formally adopted new EU rules covering circularity requirements for vehicle design and the management of end-of-life vehicles.

The regulation is intended to ensure that new vehicles are designed and produced in ways that support reuse, recycling and recovery, with the aim of making the automotive sector more circular and sustainable.

The new rules introduce circularity requirements across the vehicle life cycle, from design and production to end-of-life treatment.

Recycled plastic targets introduced for new vehicles

Under the regulation, at least 15% of plastic used to manufacture new vehicles must come from recycling six years after the rules enter into force.

The target will increase to 25% recycled plastic within 10 years of the regulation entering into force. At least 20% of this recycled plastic must come from end-of-life vehicles.

The measure is expected to increase demand for recycled materials in vehicle manufacturing and support broader circular economy objectives in the automotive sector.

Producers to take lifecycle responsibility

The regulation introduces extended producer responsibility for vehicle manufacturers. Producers will be financially and organizationally responsible for the full life cycle of their vehicles, including when they become waste.

This responsibility includes promoting vehicle design for circularity and ensuring free take-back and proper treatment of end-of-life vehicles.

The rules are intended to improve recycling, recovery and material reuse while reducing waste and pollution linked to vehicle disposal.

Measures address missing vehicles and illegal exports

The regulation also introduces measures to address missing vehicles, including vehicles that are illegally dismantled or exported.

Traceability and control measures will be strengthened. Once a vehicle meets the criteria for an end-of-life vehicle, it must be treated by an authorized treatment facility and cannot be legally exported or resold as a used vehicle.

The regulation also bans the export of used vehicles that are no longer roadworthy. The Council said this measure is intended to prevent pollution in third countries and retain valuable materials within the EU.

Scope includes cars, vans and selected requirements for other vehicles

The new regulation will fully apply to passenger cars and light commercial vans.

Heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks, as well as motorcycles and special purpose vehicles, will be subject to a more limited set of requirements, mainly focused on ensuring proper end-of-life treatment.

Rules to apply two years after entry into force

The Council said adoption of the regulation marks the final step in the ordinary legislative procedure.

The regulation will start applying two years after it enters into force.

Based on a feasibility study to be completed one year after entry into force, the European Commission must introduce future targets for additional materials, including recycled steel, aluminum, magnesium and critical raw materials.

EU seeks to increase material recovery from end-of-life vehicles

More than 6 million end-of-life vehicles are generated in the EU each year. The Council said inadequate management of these vehicles can cause pollution and result in the loss of significant volumes of materials.

The automotive manufacturing industry is one of the EU’s most resource-intensive sectors and is among the largest consumers of primary raw materials, while still making limited use of recycled materials.

Existing EU rules have improved the collection of end-of-life vehicles and increased recycling of these vehicles to around 85% of the materials they contain.

The new regulation builds on the European Green Deal and the circular economy action plan by addressing vehicle design, recycled content, proper treatment and the export of polluting vehicles.

Source: European Council.