IRIS Highlights - May 2025

>KEY NEWS  1/4 — EU

Euro 7 Gains Speed: What the New Brake Emissions Tests for Light-Duty Vehicles Will Look Like

The Advisory Group on Vehicle Emission Standards (AGVES) has published a new technical document marking a major milestone in Europe’s push toward cleaner mobility: the regulation of brake emissions in Light-Duty Vehicles (LDVs) under the upcoming Euro 7 framework. This regulatory development directly addresses growing concerns over non-exhaust emissions, which represent a significant share of urban air pollution.

 GTR 24 and the WLTP-Brake Cycle: Technical Accuracy in Service of Compliance

At the core of the new regulation is the UN Global Technical Regulation 24 (GTR 24), which introduces a laboratory testing protocol using a closed brake dynamometer system, designed to isolate and accurately measure particles emitted from braking systems. The WLTP-Brake Cycle, based on real-world driving data, simulates diverse braking conditions with high fidelity.

Key features of the test include:

• 10 individual trips reflecting real driving and braking scenarios,
• 303 braking events across a 192 km total distance,
• 4.5 hours of active speed control,
• Measurement of PM10, PM2.5, Particle Number (PN ≥10 nm) and total brake wear,
• Strictly controlled thermal, airflow, and measurement conditions.

 Efficient Testing: The Introduction of the "Brake Family" Concept

One of the major innovations introduced by GTR 24 is the “brake family” approach. This model allows a single brake system — even if installed across different types of vehicles (ICE, hybrid, or electric) — to be tested only once. The test is conducted on the “parent vehicle”, defined as the configuration with the most demanding combination of braking load and friction coefficient.

This approach allows manufacturers to:

• Significantly reduce testing costs and time,
• Calculate Emission Factors (EFb) for the rest of the brake family using proportional formulas,
• Declare adjusted values that account for uncertainty, durability, and regulatory surveillance.

What Does This Mean for OEMs and TIERs?

The new regulatory framework introduces both challenges and opportunities:

• It requires the use of more efficient and durable friction materials,
• It demands advanced test benches and specialized sensors,
• It imposes detailed control of test parameters, traceability, and technical documentation at the vehicle level.

Understanding the Regulatory Framework is Key to Staying Ahead

Euro 7 not only raises the bar in technical requirements but also increases the complexity of the European regulatory landscape. For OEMs and suppliers, deep understanding of these regulations is critical to making informed decisions and minimizing compliance risks.

At IRIS, we monitor and classify evolving regulations such as Euro 7, offering our clients clear, structured, and up-to-date insights into the legal and technical frameworks impacting their products and strategies.

Access the official AGVES technical document here: AGVES – LDV Brake Emissions Euro 7 (April 2025)

Want a clear overview of the regulatory landscape? At IRIS, we help turn complex legislation into actionable knowledge, get to know us better!

KEY NEWS  2/4 — EU

EU Advances Regulation of Driver Control Assistance System (DCAS): Clear Priorities and a Cautious Approach

The European Commission has taken a significant step forward in developing the regulation for the Driver Control Assistance System (DCAS) by publishing a document outlining the current status and priorities for the upcoming regulatory phase.

This regulation establishes a progressive framework tailored to both safety requirements and technological advancements in the automotive sector. For Phase 3, the Commission has prioritized the development of Smart Integrity Monitoring (SIM) on highways, allowing drivers to keep their hands off the wheel. In urban environments, SIM will require drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, while other assistance modes without this requirement have been classified as low priority.

This approach reflects a cautious strategy aimed at ensuring safety by starting in more controlled, predictable scenarios before moving into more complex urban settings.

The regulation is built around four key pillars:

1. Enabling drivers to understand the capabilities and limitations of the system.
2. Keeping drivers aware of their role through monitoring and alerts.
3. Ensuring drivers can control and safely override the system at any time.
4. Promoting a proactive safety strategy based on anticipatory system behaviors.

The European Commission expects to publish the first working document on this regulation by October 2025, marking an important milestone in the regulation of driver assistance technologies in Europe.

This development is crucial for enhancing road safety and fostering responsible technological innovation in the automotive industry. 

KEY NEWS  3/4 — EU

The European Parliament strengthens the circular economy with new regulation on end-of-life Vehicles

The European Parliament has taken a decisive step toward a more sustainable automotive industry with the presentation of over 300 amendments to the new regulation on the circularity and management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The initiative, led by the Committee on Transport and Tourism, aims to consolidate and modernize the current regulatory framework to address the environmental and technological challenges of the 21st century.

With this proposal, the European Union seeks not only to reduce waste and emissions, but also to promote innovation in recycled materials, digital traceability, and vehicle repair—key elements in the transition to a circular economy.

A regulation to replace two outdated directives

The new regulation will replace Directive 2000/53/EC on the collection and recycling of ELVs and Directive 2005/64/EC on recyclability requirements for vehicle type-approval. In their place, it proposes a single, coherent framework with more ambitious targets.

Key goals include sustainable vehicle design from the manufacturing stage, mandatory use of recycled materials, and responsible management of vehicles once they reach the end of their life. The proposal responds both to the ambitions of the European Green Deal and to the need to stimulate key sectors such as industrial recycling and independent repair.

Six key pillars of the new regulation

1. Mandatory recycled content: Binding and progressive targets—fully applicable by 2035—will ensure a minimum percentage of recycled materials in vehicle manufacturing. This will particularly affect plastics, steel, and aluminum, reducing dependence on virgin raw materials.

2. Design for disassembly and repair: New vehicles must allow easier disassembly, especially of electronic components, and provide manuals and spare parts for at least 10 years. This measure aims to reduce waste and encourage repairability.

3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Manufacturers will be required to take a more active role in managing the end-of-life phase of vehicles, including offering incentives for reuse and lifetime extension. A bonus system will reward those who prioritize these approaches.

4. Digital circularity passport: Each vehicle will have a digital document containing information about its composition, repair history, and recyclability. This passport will be interoperable and accessible to manufacturers, workshops, and authorities, enabling traceability and transparency.

5. Progressive implementation by vehicle type: Although the regulation will initially apply to passenger cars, it will gradually extend to motorcycles and heavy-duty vehicles from 2028, with specific adaptations for each category.

6. Exemptions for historic vehicles: Special regimes are being considered for classic vehicles, recognized as cultural heritage, allowing limited exemptions without compromising the overall sustainability goals.

Balancing environmental ambition with industrial feasibility

The legislative process has sparked broad debate in Parliament, focusing on how to balance climate targets with the technical and industrial realities of the European automotive sector. Lawmakers aim to avoid negative impacts on independent workshops, manufacturers, or consumers, while reinforcing the commitments of the European Green Deal.

Legislative timeline

• June 15, 2023: European Commission presents the draft regulation.
• March 2025: European Parliament presents its amendments (Nos. 83 to 411).
• October 2025: Trilateral negotiations begin with the Commission and the Council.
• 2026–2027: Final approval and gradual entry into force across Member States.

A transformation for the European automotive industry

Once adopted, the regulation will deeply transform how vehicles are designed, maintained, recycled, and managed in Europe. It is expected to drive technological innovation, strengthen the circular economy, and create new markets in recycling, sustainable materials, and repair services.

With this move, the European Union sets a clear course toward more responsible, efficient, and environmentally friendly mobility—positioning the automotive sector as a key driver of the green transition.

KEY NEWS  4/4 — EU

UN Advances Regulation to Prevent Children Being Left in Vehicles

The United Nations Informal Working Group on Children Left in Vehicles (CLIV) is making progress on drafting a new regulation that will require car manufacturers to install child presence detection systems in light-duty vehicles. The goal is to prevent deaths and serious injuries caused by heatstroke in children who are unintentionally left inside parked cars.

During the group’s eighth session, the expert from China submitted a document outlining preliminary technical requirements for the upcoming regulation. Initially focused on heavy-duty vehicles, the regulation is now expanding to include passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (categories M1 and N1).

Advanced Detection Systems at the Core

At the heart of the proposal is the Child Presence Detection (CPD) system, a technology that combines sensors and algorithms to monitor vital signs and movements in order to detect a child’s presence inside the vehicle. Once detected, the system can trigger visual, audible, or haptic alerts and, in some cases, initiate emergency responses such as opening windows or activating the air conditioning.

Key technical requirements proposed include:

• Applicable to M1 and N1 category vehicles.
• Detection coverage in front and rear seats, and footwell areas.
• Automatic activation 15 seconds after vehicle locking.
• Multi-stage alerts including visual, audible, and voice messages in the market's local language.
• Possibility of physical intervention to prevent overheating.
• Strict conditions for temporary deactivation and permanent deactivation only through authorized dealers with customer consent.

Public Health Impact

The medical evidence is clear: children are particularly vulnerable to hyperthermia due to immature thermoregulation systems. While not all children left in vehicles die, non-fatal incidents often result in long-term neurological, cardiovascular, and renal damage. These injuries mirror those seen in adults suffering from exertional heatstroke.

Studies show that for every fatal case, there are thousands of non-fatal incidents, significantly increasing the public health burden. While these systems add costs for manufacturers and consumers, the public generally supports them due to their life-saving potential and the long-term savings in medical and emergency response costs.

Draft Regulation in Progress

The forthcoming UN regulation, developed under the framework of the Global Technical Regulation (GTR), will include:

• Clear definitions of direct, indirect, and physical inspection detection systems.
• System activation within 3 minutes after vehicle shutdown.
• Standardized testing protocols to assess system performance.
• Guidelines for maintenance, repairs, and authorized servicing.

Australia has volunteered to develop the initial draft text of the regulation, which will also cover school buses and vehicles specifically designed to transport children in preschool, primary, or secondary education.

Next Steps

The technical and regulatory development will continue in the coming months within the United Nations World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29). A final vote on the regulation is expected in 2026, with phased implementation starting in 2027.

Through this initiative, the UN aims to deliver a global and effective response to a silent yet preventable threat—protecting the most vulnerable passengers in everyday transport settings.

You can find these and other news in our Regulatory Monitoring Report.