BRUSSELS (CHATNEWSTV) — The European Union on Tuesday took a major step toward embedding circular economy principles into vehicle manufacturing, as the Council adopted its position on a new regulation for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), introducing mandatory recycling targets and broader responsibilities for manufacturers.
The updated legislation would require automakers to design vehicles that are easier to reuse, recycle, and recover, with phased targets for minimum recycled plastic content—15% within six years of enforcement, 20% after eight years, and 25% within a decade.
“This regulation is a game-changer for Europe,” said Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Poland’s Minister for Climate and Environment. “It cuts waste, curbs our reliance on critical raw materials from abroad, and drives our car industry into the heart of the circular economy.”
The Council’s position also expands the scope of the law beyond cars and vans to include heavy-duty trucks, motorbikes, three-wheelers, and quadricycles. These vehicles will be required to follow circularity standards, such as removable parts and component labelling. Special-purpose vehicles like ambulances, cranes, and fire trucks are also included under the revised scope.
To prevent fraud in the trade of used vehicles, the Council added a requirement that sellers provide documentation proving a vehicle is not already considered an ELV during any ownership transfer—except in-person sales between individuals. Online sales between individuals, deemed higher risk, are included in the rule.
The proposal clarifies the legal definition of an end-of-life vehicle and includes exemptions for culturally significant vehicles and vintage models restored for active road use.
As part of the circularity push, the Council introduced a streamlined requirement for a “digital circularity vehicle passport,” aligning it with existing EU digital product passports. Manufacturers would need to draft a circularity strategy per vehicle category, rather than for each model, to ease administrative burdens.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules were reinforced. Automakers must now cover not only collection but also treatment and disposal costs—even for vehicles with unknown or defunct producers, in proportion to their market share. Trucks and motorcycles are subject to a full-chain EPR fee, while foreign producers must cover recycling costs for vehicles placed on the EU market.
The new rules also prohibit the mixed shredding of ELVs with other waste, unless stringent output quality criteria are met. Disposal must occur at authorized treatment facilities or collection points, with clear requirements for storage, depollution, and the removal of hazardous parts.
In an effort to clamp down on illegal exports of non-roadworthy vehicles, customs checks will be fully automated, based on existing risk profiles. EU member states will continue using national applications to connect with the MOVE-HUB, an EU-wide digital platform for tracking vehicle data and customs records.
With the Council’s position finalized, negotiations with the European Parliament will begin once the Parliament adopts its own stance on the file.
The review is part of the EU Green Deal, which promotes more sustainable production by linking product design to end-of-life treatment. The automotive industry—one of the EU’s most resource-intensive sectors—accounts for 19% of European steel demand, 10% of plastics, and significant shares of aluminium, copper, and rubber consumption.
The regulation would replace existing directives on end-of-life vehicles and type-approval for reuse, recovery, and recycling.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
