CO2 emission standards for light-duty vehicles

LATEST UPDATE (April 2023)

 On 19 April 2023, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/851 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 to strengthen the CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in line with the European Union’s increased climate ambition.

The new rules set targets of 55% CO2 emission reductions for new cars and 50% for new vans from 2030 to 2034 compared to 2021 levels, followed by 100% CO2 emission reductions for both new cars and vans from 2035. These targets are based on the tailpipe measurement procedure.

A regulatory incentive mechanism for zero- and low-emission vehicles (ZLEV) will be in place from 2025 until the end of 2029. As part of this mechanism, if a manufacturer meets certain benchmarks for the sales of zero- and low-emission vehicles it can be rewarded with less strict CO2 targets. The benchmark is set at 25% for cars and 17% for vans.

The regulation contains a reference to e-fuels, whereby following a consultation with stakeholders, the Commission will make a proposal for registering vehicles running exclusively on CO2-neutral fuels, after 2035, in conformity with EU law, outside the scope of the fleet standards, and in conformity with the EU’s climate neutrality objective.

The regulation includes a review clause that foresees that in 2026, the Commission will thoroughly assess the progress made towards achieving the 2035 100% emission reduction targets and the possible need to review them. The review will take into account technological developments, including with regard to plug-in hybrid technologies and the importance of a viable and socially equitable transition towards zero emissions.

In addition, a common EU methodology is included, to be developed by the Commission by 2025, for assessing the full life cycle of CO2 emissions of cars and vans placed on the EU market, as well as for the fuels and energy consumed by these vehicles.

CURRENT EU LEGISLATION

Regulation (EU) 2023/851 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening the CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in line with the European Union’s increased climate ambition.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R0851
Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No 510/2011
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R0631

HISTORY OF CO₂ EMISSION STANDARDS FOR LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES

Regulation (EC) 443/2009, set mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars. Regulation (EC) 510/2011 set the reduction targets for vans. The first target fully applied from 2015 onward.

Regulation 2019/631 set new targets for cars and vans for 2025 and 2030. It applied from 2020.