KEY NEWS 1/4 — EU
New EU Regulation on procedures and testing for the Application of Euro 7
Regulation (EU) 2025/1706 introduces key changes for manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive sector
The European Union has published Regulation (EU) 2025/1706, which establishes the procedures and test methodologies necessary for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1257, relating to type approval for exhaust and evaporative emissions.
This regulation represents a decisive step in the implementation of the Euro 7 standard, reinforcing environmental requirements for vehicles and requiring manufacturers to achieve greater precision in testing, extended durability of emission control systems, and more rigorous traceability throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle.
The new regulation applies to vehicle categories M1, N1, and N2, defined as Euro 7ext and Euro 7Gext, and includes 22 annexes that detail the technical requirements, test methods, and administrative documentation necessary for type approval.
For manufacturers and suppliers, this update means the need to adapt their development, validation, and certification processes to the new test protocols and revised administrative requirements. It also reinforces the importance of collaboration with technical bodies and type approval authorities to ensure regulatory compliance within established deadlines.
Regulation (EU) 2025/1706 entered into force on September 25, 2025, while its Annex XVIII—which modifies Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/683 on administrative requirements—will be applicable from November 29, 2026.
The entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2025/1706 marks a new reference point in the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility in Europe. Its implementation will require advance technical and regulatory planning, especially by manufacturers and suppliers involved in the type approval value chain.
Companies that successfully align their R&D and regulatory compliance strategies with the new Euro 7 requirements will not only ensure their competitiveness but also strengthen their role as protagonists in future mobility.
KEY NEWS 2/4 — EU
New European proposal on circularity and end-of-life vehicle management
In July 2023, the European Commission presented Proposal COM(2023) 451, a Regulation on circularity requirements and the management of end-of-life vehicles (ELV).
The objective is to establish a comprehensive framework covering the entire vehicle lifecycle, from design to end-of-life treatment, thus promoting more sustainable automotive industry, efficient in resource use and aligned with circular economy principles.
The proposal unifies in a single legal instrument the provisions on vehicle design, material reuse and recyclability, recycled content, and waste management, strengthening extended producer responsibility and promoting traceability and transparency throughout the entire value chain.
Main provisions of the proposal
Vehicle design and manufacturing
- Recyclability and reuse: Vehicles must be at least 85% recyclable/reusable and 95% recoverable by mass, with a verification methodology defined by the Commission.
- Hazardous substances: Restrictions on lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium are maintained, with periodic reviews and possible future limitations under research area coordination.
- Recycled content: A minimum of 25% recycled plastic from post-consumer waste is established (of which 25% must come from ELVs). Specific targets may also be set for steel and other critical materials.
- Design for disassembly: Vehicles must facilitate the extraction of components with high reuse potential, such as electric vehicle batteries and electric traction motors.
Information and documentation
- Circularity strategy: Manufacturers must update every five years a circularity strategy detailing actions to improve resource efficiency and material management.
- Information accessibility: Free and standardized access to component disassembly information for treatment and repair operators.
- Labeling and digital passport: Components must carry labeling according to material standards, complemented by a Vehicle Digital Circularity Passport for information exchange.
End-of-life vehicle management
- Extended producer responsibility: Manufacturers must finance the collection and treatment of ELVs, establishing registries and producer responsibility organizations. Financial contributions will be modulated according to vehicle design and recyclability.
- Collection and traceability: Only authorized collection facilities may operate, with electronic certificates of destruction.
- Treatment and recycling: Vehicles must comply with specific environmental and technical standards, ensuring the removal of contaminating components before shredding and prohibiting landfilling of non-inert waste.
- Recycling targets: The goals of 85% reuse/recycling and 95% recovery by weight are maintained, and a new target of 30% recycled plastic from ELVs is introduced.
Export control and compliance
- Used vehicle export: Only vehicles in legal driving condition may be exported; ELV export is prohibited.
- Electronic verification: Digital system linking vehicle registries and customs procedures, eliminating simplified processes for exports.
- Implementation and control: Annual inspection of at least 10% of authorized facilities, effective sanctions, and strengthened cooperation between national authorities.
Parliamentary Progress: recent legislative advances
During the European Parliament plenary session held in Strasbourg in September 2025, various key proposals were debated and voted on.
Among them, on September 10, 2025, the final vote was held on Report A-10-2025-0158, relating to circularity requirements in vehicle design and ELV management.
The report, initially approved on August 5, 2025, by the ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) and IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) committees, established Parliament's first reading position on proposal COM(2023) 451.
Prior to the final vote, on September 3, 2025, MEPs presented additional amendments to strengthen the text and ensure technical and political coherence.
These amendments addressed, among other aspects:
- The regulation's scope according to different vehicle categories.
- Recycled material requirements and mandatory recycled plastic content targets.
- Conditions for collection, decontamination, and treatment of end-of-life vehicles.
The September 10, 2025 vote marked a key milestone in the legislative process, consolidating a balanced and technically sound Parliament position that will serve as the basis for interinstitutional negotiations (trilogues) with the EU Council and European Commission.
Industry Impact: implications for manufacturers and suppliers
Proposal COM(2023) 451 introduces new technical and regulatory challenges for automotive sector actors.
Manufacturers and suppliers must anticipate circular design requirements, recycled material verification, digital information management, and environmental compliance throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle.
IRIS Automotive Regulatory Lab: anticipating regulatory change
At IRIS, we closely follow all legislative proposals through the IRIS Automotive Regulatory Lab, a digital environment designed to monitor, contextualize, and anticipate the evolution of European and international automotive regulations.
🔹 Regulatory observatory with interactive timelines visualizing each stage of the legislative process.
🔹 Analysis space to understand how regulations are created, negotiated, and modified.
🔹 Strategic resource to anticipate regulatory trends and guide decision-making.
Fully integrated into the IRIS platform, the Automotive Regulatory Lab offers a centralized, visual, and dynamic view of each proposal's lifecycle, from inception to final adoption.
The evolution of Proposal COM(2023) 451 confirms the European Union's commitment to more circular, responsible, and sustainable automotive industry.
For manufacturers and suppliers, proactively adapting to this transformation will be key to maintaining competitiveness and leading the transition towards more efficient and resilient mobility.
Contact IRIS if you wish to closely follow the evolution of this proposal and understand its regulatory and technical impact on the European automotive ecosystem.
KEY NEWS 3/4 — EU
New European initiative on minimum energy efficiency in electric motors
The European Commission reviews the Ecodesign Regulation for motors and variable speed drives
The Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) of the European Commission has initiated a review of the Ecodesign Regulation (EU 2019/1781), which regulates electric motors and variable speed drives (VSDs).
The objective is to evaluate whether current standards remain effective and how they should be updated to reflect technological progress and market changes.
The review is part of the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan, and seeks to ensure that ecodesign and energy labeling measures are effective, relevant, and efficient in the face of technological and market evolution. Final adoption is expected around mid-2029.
Currently, the process is in the public feedback phase, which ended on September 22, 2025. During this period, stakeholders throughout the EU had the opportunity to send comments, participate in meetings, and provide technical information to guide the review.
Main objective
Evaluate the Regulation's success in reducing the environmental impact of motors and VSDs, considering:
- Energy efficiency
- Material efficiency
- Circular economy principles
Among the identified challenges are:
- Requirements potentially obsolete due to technological advances.
- Exclusion of certain motor types, such as permanent magnet motors.
- Opportunities to improve material efficiency, especially in critical metals.
- Other regulation aspects that could generate additional benefits.
Public consultation and stakeholder participation
During the public consultation phase (August 25 – September 22, 2025), comments were collected from:
- Manufacturers, repairers, and refurbishment companies
- Technical planners and testing laboratories
- Market surveillance authorities and environmental bodies
- Standardization bodies and national authorities
The information obtained will serve as the basis for adjusting regulation requirements, ensuring they are technically viable and aligned with energy efficiency, circularity, and sustainability objectives.
Industry Impact: strategic implications
For manufacturers, suppliers, and electrical sector actors, this initiative means:
- An opportunity to innovate in energy efficiency and circular design.
- The need to adapt processes, materials, and technologies to future requirements.
- The possibility of anticipating regulation, strengthening competitiveness in the European market.
Companies that adopt a proactive approach will be able to consolidate their technological leadership and strategic position against regulatory and market changes.
📩 Contact IRIS if you wish to closely follow the evolution of this initiative and understand its regulatory and technical impact on electric motors and variable speed drive systems
KEY NEWS 4/4 — US
U.S. launches unified regulatory framework for vehicles with automated driving systems (AV)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a set of three new regulations aimed at modernizing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for vehicles with automated driving systems (AV). Current standards, written decades ago, do not contemplate driverless operation, which motivated this review within the Automated Vehicle Framework.
The AV Framework seeks to:
- Prioritize safety in continuous operation of AVs on public roads.
- Remove unnecessary regulatory barriers to foster innovation.
- Facilitate commercial deployment of automated vehicles, improving mobility and safety.
As part of the initiative, modifications are proposed to three specific FMVSS standards:
- FMVSS 102: Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect.
- FMVSS 103: Windshield defrosting and defogging systems.
- FMVSS 108: Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
In parallel, NHTSA continues with the Part 555 exemption process, which allows manufacturers to sell up to 2,500 vehicles per year that do not fully comply with FMVSS, facilitating early innovation and validation of emerging technologies.
Industry impact:
- Manufacturers and suppliers must adapt their systems and processes to new standards.
- Opportunities open to accelerate AV commercialization and consolidate technological leadership.
- Regulatory harmonization reduces fragmentation between states, simplifying regulatory and market planning.
The AV Framework reinforces the U.S. commitment to safe, efficient, and competitive automated mobility, aligning technological innovation and safety standards.