Old European cars are about to lease new life.
The Council of the European Union has adopted a position on recycling cleaned vehicles in a groundbreaking move to restructure the ways vehicles are built, used and retired.
The new End of the Apocalyptic Vehicle (ELV) regulations aim to reduce waste, reduce and increase waste, turbocharge the use of recycled materials (particularly plastics) across the European automotive industry.
With stricter standards and wider scope, the EU is piloting towards greener, more resource-efficient roads.
Paulina Hennig-Kloska, EU Minister of Climate and Environment, commented: “ELV regulations are a game changer in Europe.
“It reduces waste, curbs our dependence on important raw materials from overseas, and drives our automotive industry to the heart of the circular economy.
“Based on the council’s position, this law not only increases the competitiveness of our automobile and recycling industries, but also minimizes the deficit.”
Extended range: Currently Includes Trucks, Bicycles and Special Vehicles
Marking a major expansion of the range, the council’s position includes not only cars and vans, but also heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles and four-headed wheels.
For all vehicle categories, manufacturers need to develop a comprehensive circular strategy and clearly label removable parts.
Special purpose vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks and mobile cranes are also covered, further pushing the boundaries of the circular vehicle design.
Strengthen plastic circulation with clear targets
One of the most headlined elements of the regulations is the introduction of essential targets for recycled plastic content in new vehicles.
A step-by-step approach sets the following goals:
15% recycled plastics by the 8th year after execution, 20% 25% 10th year
These targets aim to reduce reliance on virgin plastics and lower carbon emissions. The Commission retains the authority to issue temporary exemptions in the event of a significant shortage or a significant price increase.
Future targets for recycled steel, aluminum and critical raw materials may also be introduced after feasibility studies.
Streamlined red tape for manufacturers
To minimize management burdens, vehicle recycling regulations allow for the development of circular strategies by vehicle categories rather than individual model lines.
The digital “Circularity Vehicle Passport,” a central feature of the proposal, also harmonizes with other EU digital product passports to avoid duplication and improve data flow.
More strict rules for used and exported vehicles
To close the regulatory loopholes, the council has tightened rules regarding the sale and export of second-hand cars.
Sellers must provide documentation certifying that a used car is not suitable for roads and is not considered an ELV, but this does not apply to private non-digital sales.
The definition of an ELV is clear and exempts for vehicles of historical interest or vehicles recovered for continued road use.
To tackle the “missing vehicles” issue, few of those exported outside the EU are exported for traceability, but customs procedures are automated and risk-based.
The Move Hub Platform helps to integrate national vehicles and customs data for customs in the EU single window environment.
Stronger rules for collection and recycling
The council also specified how ELVs should be treated, including storage protocols, removal of dangerous liquids and parts, and shredding practices.
Shredding mixed with other waste types is limited unless strict quality standards are met. The vehicle must be used at either an approved treatment facility (ATFS) or a designated collection point.
Extended producer responsibility has been strengthened
Under the updated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, vehicle producers cover the full cost of ELV collection, transportation and recycling, even for isolated vehicles (if the producer no longer exists).
This obligation applies proportionally to the market share of each manufacturer and includes third country producers who place vehicles in the EU market.
Especially for trucks and motorcycles, EPR fees now extend not only to collection and disposal, but also to the entire treatment chain.
The industry welcomes gradual goals, but encourages a wider range of materials
The European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) has carefully welcomed the efforts to set achievable, step-by-step targets, particularly for the use of recycled plastics, the council’s position.
However, ACEA criticized the exclusion of precious recycling and bio-based materials from recycled content definitions.
They argue that to truly reduce raw material use and emissions, a broader definition of sustainable materials is necessary.
ACEA Director Sigrid de Vries added:
“However, to be successful, new end-of-life vehicle recycling rules must be technically viable and supported by a consistent framework.
“Transforming end-of-life recycling does not happen overnight. Europe needs a policy framework that effectively protects the industry’s competitiveness to enable critical R&D investments in cutting-edge recycling technologies.”
Future direction
With the Council’s stance now established, the next step is negotiations with the European Parliament, which must be finalized.
If adopted, the new regulations will form the basis of the EU’s circular economy agenda and will be a major step forward in changing the way Europe handles vehicle recycling.
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