The project for Euro 7 has been postponed: what it means for industry

The final proposal for the Euro 7 pollution standard is expected to appear in July.

A changing timetable for the final proposal for future Euro 7 pollution regulations, now set for July, has raised concerns among European industry advocacy and lobbying groups, who say they and their members need guidance to plan for change.

EU standards limit emissions of pollutants such as fine particles, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from petrol and diesel cars and lorries, and would replace existing Euro 6 regulations in force from 2014. They may come into force from with 2025.

The issue is of vital importance to carmakers selling in Europe, as it is switching its range to electric and electrified vehicles from pure combustion engines to meet increasingly stringent emissions standards. High compliance costs could make it unprofitable to build small combustion engines.

Nissan announced last week that it would stop developing new internal combustion engines for Europe, citing the expected costs of Euro 7 compliance.

When the Euro 7 rules were first proposed in draft form in October 2020, German industry group VDA and other carmakers said the new limits would amount to an effective ban on combustion engines.

EURO 7 creates problems for producers

But the VDA eased its position in April last year after a revised version was presented by the Vehicle Emission Standards Advisory Group.

The final adoption of the standards proposed by the European Commission was set for the first time for the fourth quarter of 2021. It was subsequently moved to 5 April 2022, and at the end of January it was moved again to 20 July. Once adopted, a “co-decision” will decide the final rules.

The Transport & Environment Group said in a letter to the EC on 2 February that it was “very concerned about the postponement” of Euro 7 standards, adding that “Postponing the publication of new vehicle emission standards is unacceptably hampering EU efforts. to clean up toxic air pollution caused by road transport ”.

“As the preparatory work is completed, T&E sees no justification for such a delay beyond pressure from the automotive industry,” the group said in the letter.

ACEA, which represents European carmakers, said in late January that it hoped lawmakers would “reach an agreement quickly in 2022” to allow for “clarity in the industry and the time needed for future planning and engineering changes”.

In the ACEA Euro 7 policy paper on June 2021, the lobby group said a September 1, 2025 implementation date is possible, giving the industry four years to prepare. Postponing the publication of the Euro 7 regulations would no longer make the date “feasible”, ACEA said on January 28th.