The Council of the European Union has approved a significant amendment to CO₂ emissions regulations for new passenger cars and vans, providing car manufacturers with greater flexibility in meeting the 2025 emissions targets. The new framework will assess compliance over a three-year average (2025-2027), rather than annually, easing the transition for the automotive industry during its shift to electric vehicles (EVs).
“The amendment aims to provide car manufacturers with flexibility to meet their emissions targets for 2025,” the Council stated in its release, marking a significant step toward regulatory clarity and stability for the sector.
This decision is part of the European Commission’s broader Industrial Action Plan for the Automotive Sector, introduced in March 2025, which focuses on facilitating the industry’s transition to cleaner technologies by reducing regulatory burdens. The Council’s position on this amendment now serves as its formal negotiating stance, and the European Parliament is expected to vote on the proposal on May 8. Should the Parliament approve the draft without amendments, the regulation will be enacted swiftly following a legal review.
The adjustment is considered a critical measure to ensure that automakers can meet the 2025 CO₂ emissions standards without the intense pressure of annual assessments, which are viewed as less feasible during the complex shift to EV production.
This move aligns with the EU’s broader climate goals, which include requiring all new cars to be zero-emissions by 2035, as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce emissions across multiple sectors. The expected swift adoption of this proposal underscores the urgency with which the EU seeks to provide both regulatory clarity and support for car manufacturers during this pivotal time.
