The EU Commission has launched calls for evidence and a joint public consultation on a review of EU CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans, as well as on a review of the Car Labelling Directive.
The objective is to gather the public and stakeholder’s views on the scope and direction of the evaluation and the reviews.
The automotive sector is seen as being of critical importance to the EU economy. It accounts for €1 trillion in GDP and provides around 13 million jobs, directly and indirectly, including 3 million related to manufacturing. That sector plays a crucial role for the EU’s industrial competitiveness, decarbonisation and the clean energy transition.
The current 2023 cars and vans CO2 standards (Regulation (EU) 2023/851, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631) set CO2 emissions performance requirements for new passenger cars and vans registered in the European market. It aims to contribute to the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives for 2030 and the path to climate neutrality by 2050, promote the uptake of zero-emission vehicles and stimulate innovation in clean technologies, thereby strengthening the sector’s global competitiveness and supporting quality job creation in the EU.
With this public consultation, the Commission is accelerating preparations for the Regulation’s review. This will be based on a robust evidence base, say the Commission, to take into account technological developments and the need for an economically viable and socially fair transition towards zero-emission mobility. Where appropriate, it will also seek to simplify rules and reduce administrative burden.
In parallel, the Commission is preparing a review of the Car Labelling Directive to better inform consumers purchasing new vehicles and making sustainable choices, in particular regarding CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency, and to support manufacturers in meeting their CO2 emission targets. It seeks as a result to increase the deployment of zero-emission vehicles in the EU. This review will build on the findings of the Directive’s evaluation, published on 4 June 2025.
EU citizens and stakeholders including industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, business organisations and civil society are invited to submit their views to the calls for evidence and the joint public consultation via the Have Your Say Portal until 29 September 2025. Feedback will feed into the Commission’s work on evaluating and reviewing both pieces of legislation.
