European Parliament — 2026-11-04
News from Brussels
The draft rules, adopted with 105 votes in favour, 39 against and 21 abstentions on Wednesday, are part of a broader package aimed at supporting the automotive sector in the transition to clean mobility.
Small electric vehicles (EVs) and targeted incentives
To encourage the development and market uptake of electric vehicles, the MEPs agreed to introduce a new category of “small electric vehicles” – passenger cars of maximum length 4.2 metres and made in the EU (to be defined under the Industrial Accelerator Act). They also want to introduce definitions of “highly efficient EVs” – cars made in the EU and meeting strict electric energy consumption thresholds; and of “zero emission vans made in the EU”. The MEPs acknowledge the importance of targeted support measures to boost the sales of these vehicles. The measures would also include a super-credit mechanism under the update of the CO₂ emission performance standards.
Improving safety for drivers and passengers
Parliament’s committees also introduce several new safety requirements compared with the Commission proposal. Passenger cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes would be equipped with a child presence detection system to operate after the vehicle is switched off or locked. The door handles of these cars and vans would be designed to ensure that doors can be mechanically opened from both the inside and the outside in emergency situations.
Simplifying requirements and testing procedures
The MEPs also propose a variety of measures aimed at reducing the administrative burden and cutting costs for European manufacturers, including:
Quotes
“The car industry is going through transformational times and Parliament must do its part to provide clarity and planning certainty amid the chaos. At the same time, we must keep ambitions high. Electric cars are the future, and Europe could build great ones”, said Michael Bloss (Greens/EFA, DE), co-rapporteur for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety.
“Today’s vote is a clear step towards cutting red tape for Europe’s automotive sector. I also welcome the fact that we are introducing a new category of highly efficient EU-made electric vehicles. This strengthens competitiveness and creates jobs in Europe”, said Andreas Schwab (EPP, DE), co-rapporteur for the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
“The aim of the automotive omnibus is to fix shortcomings in the EU legislation for car and truck manufacturing, for constructors and suppliers wanting to transition to greener solutions, and for consumers who want access to good vehicles, that pollute less and function in any circumstances. This is why I’m particularly happy that with this text we are asking the Commission to move quickly to assess and fix the issues faced by users of the AdBlue reagent in Finland”, said Merja Kyllönen (The Left, FI) co-rapporteur for the Committee on Transport and Tourism.
Next steps
Parliament’s mandate for negotiations with EU governments is expected to be voted during the December 2026 plenary session.
Background
In December 2025, the Commission presented a proposal for a regulation to simplify technical requirements and testing procedures for motor vehicles (as part of the automotive package, and specifically of the automotive omnibus). The Commission estimates that the changes would bring annual savings of €706 million for industry, including SMEs, citizens and government authorities.