Under the draft regulation, manufacturers will be required to design new cars and vans so that components can be easily removed by authorised treatment facilities (ATFs), allowing for reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing or recycling wherever technically feasible. Software restrictions that prevent the replacement or removal of individual parts will be banned.
New rules will also introduce binding targets for recycled plastic content. Each new vehicle type must contain at least 20% recycled plastic within six years of the regulation taking effect, increasing to 25% after 10 years, depending on the availability of suitable material. The European Commission will also assess whether similar recycled content targets should be introduced for metals such as steel and aluminium.
The regulation would reinforce extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements, making manufacturers financially responsible for the collection and treatment of end-of-life vehicles. It also mandates that all vehicles undergo full depollution – including the removal of fluids, gases and hazardous components – prior to shredding.
Member States will be required to strengthen inspections of authorised treatment facilities and take enforcement action against illegal operators. In a further move to improve traceability and cut waste exports, the regulation clarifies that only vehicles in working condition may be exported, with updated criteria to determine when a vehicle qualifies as ‘end-of-life’.
The proposals were backed by MEPs in a joint vote of the two committees, with 79 votes in favour, 27 against and 11 abstentions. Co-rapporteurs Jens Gieseke and Paulius Saudargas said the compromise text strikes a balance between environmental ambition and industry feasibility, combining “realistic targets, less red tape and fair competition”.
The full European Parliament is expected to vote on the proposal during its 8-11 September plenary session. If adopted, the rules will apply to cars and vans one year after entry into force, with phased timelines for other vehicle categories such as buses, trucks and motorcycles.
The proposals are seen as a key part of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and support the goals of the European Green Deal. For the recycling sector, the rules promise to drive higher demand for recycled automotive plastics and metals, while tightening compliance at end-of-life treatment stages. The obligation to design vehicles for disassembly and material recovery has also been welcomed by recyclers as a long-awaited step toward genuine product circularity.
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