European Parliament moves forward on End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation
The Environment and Internal Market Committees of the European Parliament adopted their proposals on the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation. The Parliament is expected to vote on the package during its September plenary session, paving the way for trilogue negotiations with the Danish Council Presidency and the European Commission.
Focus on repairability and circular economy
In line with broader EU goals around sustainability and the circular economy, the Parliament’s amendments introduce new obligations for vehicle manufacturers and national authorities notably:
- The easy removal of high-value parts and components, to facilitate replacement, reuse, recycling, remanufacturing or refurbishing, i.e. by ensuring access to necessary software documentation, updates, and diagnostic tools.
- Extended responsibility for vehicle manufacturers to cover the cost of collection and treatment of their vehicles
- More frequent inspections of facilities involved in the treatment of end-of-life vehicles
These measures aim to extend the lifespan of vehicles, make repairs easier, and prevent premature scrapping based on unclear definitions of irreparability.
Clarity for insurers
The Parliament’s position offers much-needed clarity for the insurance sector. Under the Parliament’s approach, the new rules for determining whether a vehicle qualifies as "end-of-life" will apply only to vehicles destined for export, and this classification should be carried out by national authorities.
This significantly eases concerns among insurers about potential new bureaucratic burdens. Under the Parliament’s version, accident-damaged vehicles within the EU will not be subject to extensive classification or testing procedures by insurance companies or drivers, addressing a key industry worry. At the same time, the regulation takes a firm stance against illegal exports and missing vehicles.