EU enacts new emission and safety rules

On 1 January 2020, new rules for CO₂ emissions and vehicle safety have entered into force across the European Union. 

From this year, manufacturers will have to meet stricter targets for the fleet-wide average emissions of their new cars and vans registered in any given calendar year. 

• By 2025, fleet-wide CO₂ emissions will have to be reduced by 15% (for both cars and vans) compared to 2021 levels. 
• By 2030, CO₂ emissions will have to be reduced by 37.5% (for cars) and 31% (for vans) compared to 2021 levels. 

The main goal of the new regulation is to help the EU reach its commitment to emissions reduction under the Paris Agreement. But it is expected it will also help reduce fuel consumption costs for consumers and increase the global competitiveness of the EU automotive industry. 

From 1 January, the EU also adheres to a revised General Safety Regulation. This requires that all new vehicle models introduced in the EU are equipped with advanced safety features. These include:

• technology to detect drivers’ drowsiness and distraction;
• an improved impact zone, to mitigate the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists;
• systems reducing dangerous blind spots on trucks and buses;
• data recording technology.

The aim is to significantly reduce the number of traffic injuries and fatalities, working towards ‘Vision Zero’, the EU’s long-term goal of reducing the number of fatalities and injuries (close) to zero by 2050.