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★Mark us as a preferred sourceThe Council of the European Union has formally adopted a new regulation concerning circularity requirements for vehicle design and the management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The legislation ensures that new vehicles are designed, produced, and treated in a way that supports re-use, recycling, and recovery, paving the way for a more circular and sustainable automotive industry.
Strict Quotas for Plastic Recycling
The new regulation introduces circularity requirements across the entire life cycle of vehicles, from design and production through to their end-of-life treatment. As a quantified target, the rules mandate that six years following the regulation’s entry into force, at least 15% of the plastic used to manufacture new vehicles must come from recycling. The ultimate goal is to reach a 25% recycled plastic target within ten years. Crucially, a minimum of 20% of this recycled plastic must be recovered specifically from end-of-life vehicles.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Under the new framework, producers will be made financially and organisationally responsible for the entire lifecycle of their vehicles, including the phase when they become waste. This extended producer responsibility (EPR) covers promoting vehicle design for circularity and ensuring the free take-back as well as the proper treatment of all end-of-life vehicles.
Tackling “Missing” and Polluting Vehicles
The regulatory package actively addresses the issue of ‘missing vehicles’—those that are illegally dismantled or exported—by enhancing traceability and implementing stricter control measures. Once a vehicle meets the legal criteria of an end-of-life vehicle, it must be treated exclusively by an authorised treatment facility and can no longer be legally exported or resold as a used vehicle.
Furthermore, the regulation strictly bans the export of used vehicles that are no longer roadworthy. This measure ensures that the EU complies with its international commitments to not contribute to environmental pollution in third countries, while also retaining valuable secondary materials within European territory.
Scope of the New Regulation
The new requirements will fully apply to passenger cars and light commercial vans. Meanwhile, heavy-duty vehicles (such as trucks), motorcycles, and special-purpose vehicles will be subject to a more limited, specific set of requirements designed primarily to ensure their proper end-of-life treatment.
Next Steps and Industry Background Data
The Council’s adoption marks the final step in the ordinary legislative procedure. The regulation will become applicable two years after its entry into force. Based on a feasibility study to be finalised one year after the rules take effect, the European Commission is tasked with introducing future targets for other essential materials, including recycled steel, aluminium, magnesium, and critical raw materials.
Industry data underscores the necessity of this regulation: over 6 million end-of-life vehicles are generated in the EU every year. Although existing rules have improved collection and led to the recycling of approximately 85% of the materials contained in ELVs, inadequate waste management continues to cause significant pollution and the loss of tonnes of valuable materials. The automotive manufacturing industry remains one of the most resource-intensive sectors in the EU; addressing its insufficient use of recycled materials is a critical step in the transition to a circular economy.
Reference Source (Official EU Press Release): Council of the European Union