European Union, 1986 to 2066
43 dated events in ten lanes, from 1992 to 2050: how road vehicles in the European Union are powered, regulated, certified, traded and used, and what is already dated ahead.
Euro 7 applies to new car and van types
Regulation 2024/1257: new car and van types from 29 Nov 2026, all new ones from 29 Nov 2027; trucks and buses from 29 May 2028 and 2029. Adds brake-particle, tyre and battery-durability rules.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesoeil.europarl.europa.eu
Where it stands on 1 November 2026
How vehicles are approved
EU whole-vehicle type approval under Regulation (EU) 2018/858 since Sept 2020, with Commission market surveillance; UN Regulations accepted
Emission stages in force
Cars and vans Euro 6e-bis (Euro 7 for new types from 29 Nov 2026); motorcycles Euro 5+; trucks and buses Euro VI-E; tractors and non-road Stage V
Safety rules and ratings
General Safety Regulation 2019/2144 (ISA, AEB, lane keeping, EDR) on all new vehicles since July 2024; UN R155/R156 cyber rules; Euro NCAP ratings
Zero-emission target
100% CO2 cut for new cars and vans from 2035 (Regulation 2023/851); a Dec 2025 proposal to lower it to 90% is still being negotiated
Net zero
2050 (European Climate Law, Regulation (EU) 2021/1119)
Market
New car registrations up 1.8% in 2025 to about 10.8 million; battery-electric share 17.4%, hybrids 34.5% (ACEA, 27 Jan 2026)
Fuel and charging
E10 petrol and B7 diesel at 10 ppm sulphur; AFIR requires 150 kW chargers every 60 km on the TEN-T core from 2025 and hydrogen stations every 200 km by 2030
End of life
ELV Directive 2000/53/EC until ELV Regulation 2026/1738 applies (Sept 2028); Battery Regulation 2023/1542 with EPR, recycled-content rules and a 2027 battery passport
Rulebook: EU type approval
EU whole-vehicle type approval. The EU is a party to the UN 1958 and 1998 Agreements in its own right.
Also on this rulebook: The 27 member states, plus Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Türkiye.
Every event, lane by lane
43 events in time order within each lane. Few dated sources were found for powertrain and batteries.
Powertrain and batteriesTechnology
Battery-electric cars take 17.4% of EU sales
In 2025 new car registrations rose 1.8%; battery-electric cars took 17.4% (1.88 million), hybrids 34.5%, plug-in hybrids 9.4%, petrol 26.6% and diesel 8.9%.
Carsacea.auto
None for the vehicle you picked.
Software, data and automationTechnology
First Level 3 automated driving approval under UN R157
Germany's KBA approved Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot on 9 Dec 2021 for automated driving at up to 60 km/h in dense traffic on 13,191 km of German motorway.
UN R155 cyber-security approval required for new vehicle types
A certified cyber-security management system (UN R155) is required for new car, van, truck and bus types from 6 July 2022 and for all new vehicles from 7 July 2024; UN R156 covers software updates.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesvehicle-certification-agency.gov.uk
EU type-approval rules for fully automated vehicles
Implementing Regulation 2022/1426 of 5 Aug 2022, in force 15 Sept 2022, sets type-approval rules for the automated driving systems of fully automated vehicles such as shuttles.
Cars, buseseur-lex.europa.eu
R155 cyber security required on all new vehicles
From July 2024 the EU extended UN R155 cyber-security approval, required for new types since July 2022, to all new vehicles sold, whatever their type-approval date.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesappluslaboratories.com
Data Act gives owners access to connected-car data
Regulation 2023/2854 applies from 12 Sept 2025: users of connected products such as cars can access the data they generate and share it with third parties such as repairers.
All vehiclesdigital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
Dutch RDW approves Tesla FSD (Supervised), a first in Europe
RDW gave FSD (Supervised) a provisional Article 39 approval in April 2026; by 28 Sep 2026 seven EU states had recognised it, and an EU-wide committee vote was not expected before December.
Carselectrive.com
Software-update rules (R156) apply to all new complete vehicles
Under (EU) 2022/2236, from 7 Jul 2026 new complete vehicles failing the R156-based software-update rules cannot be registered; from July 2024 this covered vehicles updated after registration.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, buseseur-lex.europa.eu
None for the vehicle you picked.
Energy and infrastructureTechnology
Leaded petrol withdrawn from the EU market
Leaded petrol was withdrawn from the whole EU market on 1 Jan 2000, although most member states had banned it earlier; all new petrol cars had needed unleaded fuel since January 1993.
Cars, vans and pickups, two- and three-wheelersen.wikipedia.org
Sulphur-free 10 ppm road diesel everywhere
Road diesel limited to 10 ppm sulphur from 1 Jan 2009 (50 ppm since 2005); EU fuel standards allow up to 7% biodiesel (B7) and 10% ethanol (E10). Non-road fuel followed in 2011.
All vehiclesdieselnet.com
AFIR sets binding charging and hydrogen station targets
Adopted 25 July 2023: from 2025, 150 kW car chargers every 60 km on the TEN-T core plus 350 kW truck chargers; hydrogen stations every 200 km and in urban nodes from 2030; card payment.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesconsilium.europa.eu
None for the vehicle you picked.
Emissions and climateRegulation
Euro 1 exhaust limits for new cars
Directive 91/441/EEC applied the first EU-wide Euro 1 limits to new car types from July 1992; light vans followed from October 1994 and Euro 2 for cars from January 1996.
Cars, vans and pickupsdieselnet.com
Euro VI limits for heavy truck and bus engines
Regulation 595/2009 applied Euro VI to new heavy-duty types from Jan 2013 and all new trucks and buses from Jan 2014; Euro I had begun in 1992, and step VI-E applies from 2022.
Trucks, busesdieselnet.com
Stage V engine limits for tractors and non-road machinery
Regulation 2016/1628 Stage V applies to non-road engines from 2019-2020; tractors under 56 kW or from 130 kW placed on the market after 2018 need Stage V engines, 56-130 kW after 2019.
Tractors and machinerycema-agri.org
95 g/km fleet CO2 target for new cars applies
After 130 g/km by 2015 (Regulation 443/2009), 95 g CO2/km applied to 95% of new cars in 2020 and all in 2021 (vans 147 g/km); Regulation 2019/631 set cuts of 15% for 2025 and 37.5% for 2030.
Cars, vans and pickupstransportpolicy.net
Euro 5 for motorcycles, mopeds and quadricycles
Under Regulation 168/2013, Euro 5 limits applied to new L-category types from 1 Jan 2020 and to all new two- and three-wheelers from 1 Jan 2021.
Two- and three-wheelersaecc.eu
Truck and bus CO2 cuts of 45% by 2030 and 90% by 2040
Revised heavy-duty CO2 standards adopted by the Council on 13 May 2024: -45% from 2030, -65% from 2035 and -90% from 2040 versus 2019; new urban buses zero-emission from 2035.
Trucks, busesdieselnet.com
2025 CO2 targets may be met on a 2025-2027 average
Regulation (EU) 2025/1214 of 17 June 2025, in force 9 July 2025, lets carmakers average car and van CO2 compliance over 2025-2027 instead of meeting the 2025 target in one year.
Cars, vans and pickupseur-lex.europa.eu
Draft: 2035 CO2 target for new cars cut from 100% to 90%Draft
Commission proposal of 16 Dec 2025, with green-steel and renewable-fuel credits. On 22 Oct 2026 Parliament's industry and transport committees backed 95%, or 87.5% with green-steel credits.
Cars, vans and pickupselectrive.com
Euro 7 applies to new car and van typesDated ahead
Regulation 2024/1257: new car and van types from 29 Nov 2026, all new ones from 29 Nov 2027; trucks and buses from 29 May 2028 and 2029. Adds brake-particle, tyre and battery-durability rules.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesoeil.europarl.europa.eu
Zero CO2 required from new cars and vans under current lawDated ahead
Regulation 2023/851 sets a 100% CO2 cut for new cars and vans from 2035, after 49.5 g/km for cars and 90.6 g/km for vans in 2030-34; a Dec 2025 proposal would cut it to 90%, with offsets.
Cars, vans and pickupsclimate.ec.europa.eu
EU climate neutrality target under the European Climate LawDated ahead
Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, in force since 29 July 2021, makes EU-wide climate neutrality by 2050 binding, with a net greenhouse-gas cut of at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990.
All vehicleseur-lex.europa.eu
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Vehicle safetyRegulation
eCall emergency call required in new car models
From April 2018 new car models must carry eCall, which automatically dials 112 after a serious crash and sends the vehicle's location, the time and the direction of travel.
Cars, vans and pickupsdigital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
General Safety Regulation systems on all new vehicles
From 7 July 2024 (new types since July 2022) all new vehicles need speed assistance, drowsiness warning and reversing detection; cars and vans also AEB, lane keeping and event data recorders.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busessingle-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
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End of life and recyclingRegulation
End-of-Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC
In force 18 Sept 2000: common EU rules for collecting and treating scrapped cars and vans, limits on hazardous substances, and targets for reuse, recycling and recovery.
Cars, vans and pickupsenvironment.ec.europa.eu
Battery Regulation 2023/1542 enters into force
In force August 2023 and applicable from 18 Feb 2024, replacing the 2006 Batteries Directive: EV-battery carbon-footprint declarations, due diligence from Aug 2027, recycled-content minimums from 2031.
All vehiclescms.law
End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation 2026/1738 in force
In force 13 Aug 2026 and applicable from 1 Sept 2028, replacing Directive 2000/53/EC: design rules for reuse and recycling, treatment requirements from 2029, recycled-plastic targets from 2032.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, buses, two- and three-wheelersenvironment.ec.europa.eu
Digital battery passport required for EV batteriesDated ahead
From 18 Feb 2027 every battery must carry a QR code; for EV, light-means-of-transport and industrial batteries over 2 kWh it opens a digital battery passport.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, buses, two- and three-wheelerscms.law
None for the vehicle you picked.
Approval, testing and qualityCertification
Euro NCAP publishes its first crash-test ratings
First results released on 4 Feb 1997, backed by the FIA, the ICRT consumer-testing group and the UK and Swedish governments; about 1,800 cars had been tested by 2017.
Carsglobalncap.org
WLTP lab test and real-driving emissions test introduced
WLTP replaced the NEDC for new car types from Sept 2017 and all new cars from Sept 2018; on-road RDE testing was phased in from 2017 with Euro 6d-TEMP.
Cars, vans and pickupsdieselnet.com
Type-approval Regulation 2018/858 replaces Directive 2007/46/EC
From 1 Sept 2020: member-state spot checks on approved vehicles, Commission market-surveillance powers, audits of technical services and EU-wide recall rules.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesvda.de
None for the vehicle you picked.
Trade and marketCommercial
EU-Korea free trade agreement applied
Provisionally applied from 1 July 2011 and fully in force from 13 Dec 2015, removing most tariffs within five years, with a safeguard clause for EU carmakers and terms on Korean emission rules.
Carsen.wikipedia.org
EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement in force
In force from 1 Feb 2019, removing most tariffs between the EU and Japan; the EU's 10% duty on Japanese cars is phased out over seven years.
Carspolicy.trade.ec.europa.eu medium confidence
Countervailing duties on battery-electric cars from China
Implementing Regulation 2024/2754 of 29 Oct 2024 adds five-year duties on top of the 10% tariff: Tesla 7.8%, BYD 17.0%, Geely 18.8%, SAIC and non-cooperating makers 35.3%.
Carseur-lex.europa.eu medium confidence
EU-US framework caps US tariff on EU cars at 15%
Joint statement of 21 Aug 2025: US Section 232 tariffs on EU cars and parts fall to a combined 15%; the EU intends to drop tariffs on all US industrial goods and to recognise US car standards.
Cars, vans and pickupspolicy.trade.ec.europa.eu
EU-India free trade agreement concluded
Announced 27 Jan 2026 in New Delhi: Indian tariffs on EU cars to fall gradually to 10% within a quota of 250,000 vehicles a year; signing follows legal review, then ratification.
Carsaljazeera.com
EU-Mercosur interim trade agreement provisionally applied
Signed in Paraguay on 17 Jan 2026; Parliament asked the Court of Justice for an opinion on 21 Jan 2026, but the interim trade agreement has applied provisionally since 1 May 2026.
All vehicleseuroparl.europa.eu
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Supply chain and materialsCommercial
European Chips Act enters into force
In force 21 Sept 2023, aiming to mobilise more than EUR 43 billion of investment and raise EU chip production capacity to 20% of the global market by 2030.
All vehiclescommission.europa.eu
Critical Raw Materials Act enters into force
In force 23 May 2024; 2030 benchmarks: 10% of EU needs mined, 40% processed and 25% recycled in the EU, and at most 65% of any strategic material from one third country.
All vehiclesluxembourg.representation.ec.europa.eu medium confidence
Battery maker Northvolt files for bankruptcy in Sweden
The Swedish cell maker filed on 12 March 2025; on 7 Aug 2025 US firm Lyten agreed to buy its Skelleftea and Vasteras plants and the Heide project in Germany.
Cars, trucksnorthvolt.com
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Mobility and customersCommercial
EU court rules Uber is a transport service
Court of Justice judgment of 20 Dec 2017 (C-434/15, Elite Taxi v Uber): app services linking riders with non-professional drivers are transport services that member states may regulate.
Carscuria.europa.eu
Clean Vehicles Directive sets clean-bus procurement shares
Directive 2019/1161, transposed by Aug 2021: 24-45% of public bus purchases must be clean in 2021-2025 and 33-65% in 2026-2030 depending on country, half of them zero-emission.
Platform Work Directive presumes gig drivers are employees
Directive 2024/2831, adopted 23 Oct 2024 and in force 1 Dec 2024, sets a rebuttable presumption of employment for ride-hailing and delivery platform workers; transposition due by Dec 2026.
Cars, two- and three-wheelerseur-lex.europa.eu medium confidence
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