Impact Assessment Report - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Type-Approval of Vehicles and of Engines

The Euro emission standards were introduced to reduce air pollution from road transport and to prevent fragmentation of the EU Single Market. Since 1992, successive standards have progressively tightened pollutant limits for cars, vans, lorries, and buses while modernizing testing procedures. The current Euro 6 (light-duty) and Euro VI (heavy-duty) standards set stricter limits for key pollutants such as NOx, particulate matter, and hydrocarbons.

After the 2015 Dieselgate scandal, the EU strengthened the regulatory framework by improving type-approval rules, enhancing market surveillance, and introducing real-world testing methods like WLTP and Real Driving Emissions (RDE). This evaluation assesses whether Euro 6/VI effectively reduced emissions and improved air quality, while remaining cost-effective and coherent with broader EU climate and transport policies, and informs future developments such as Euro 7.