Regulation proposal on the management of end-of-life vehicles and standards for circularity in vehicle design.

The European Commission adopted a Proposal for a Regulation on the management of end-of-life vehicles and standards for circularity in vehicle design on July 13, 2023. The adopted act is open for feedback until September 26, 2023. 

 In terms of reusability, recyclability, and recoverability of materials used in vehicles, as well as information and labelling requirements for parts, components, and materials used in vehicles, this proposed regulation establishes circularity requirements. It also specifies rules for extended producer responsibility, the collecting and disposal of vehicles at the end of their useful lives, and the export of old cars from the Union to foreign nations. 

In Europe, more than six million vehicles approach the end of their useful lives each year. Poor handling of cars near the end of their useful lives causes pollution and value loss. The evaluation of the existing EU laws governing the area, Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles (the "ELV Directive," adopted in 2000), and Directive 2005/64/EC on the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to their reusability, recyclability, and recoverability ("3R type-approval Directive," adopted in 2005), has revealed that significant improvements were required to boost the transition of the automotive sector to a circular economy and thereby reducing the amount of waste that is produced. 

The transition to zero-emission vehicles depends on strengthening the EU's resilience against supply chain disruptions and lowering its reliance on imports of vital raw materials. To help the industry adapt, the Commission has updated the law and suggests a single regulation that emphasises a number of crucial components to raise design, collection, and recycling quality while simplifying reporting requirements: 

This action plan is anticipated to provide significant environmental advantages, such as: 

• A decrease in yearly CO2 emissions of 12.3 million tonnes by 2035 

• Improved material valorisation of 5.4 million tonnes 

• Higher recovery of essential raw materials 

• Long-term energy savings at the production stage and a decrease in reliance on imported raw materials. 

The European Parliament and the Council will now review the Commission's proposal for a rule on the management of end-of-life vehicles and on circularity standards for vehicle design.