BRUSSELS: European Parliament committees have backed proposals to promote small, EU-made electric vehicles and ease regulatory requirements for automakers, while introducing new safety measures for passengers, as the bloc seeks to strengthen its automotive industry and accelerate the shift to cleaner transport.
The draft rules, approved on Wednesday by Parliament’s environment, internal market and transport committees by 105 votes to 39, with 21 abstentions, are part of a broader European Union package aimed at supporting the automotive sector’s transition to clean mobility.
Lawmakers want to create a new category of small electric vehicles for passenger cars manufactured in the EU and measuring no more than 4.2 metres in length. They also proposed definitions for highly efficient EU-made electric cars and zero-emission vans, alongside targeted incentives to encourage their sales.
The proposed measures include a super-credit mechanism under the revision of EU carbon dioxide emission standards.
The committees also proposed new safety requirements for passenger cars and vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. Vehicles would have to be equipped with systems capable of detecting children left inside after the engine is switched off or the vehicle is locked.
Door handles would also have to allow mechanical opening from both inside and outside in emergencies.
The proposals seek to reduce compliance costs and administrative requirements for manufacturers through changes to technical rules and testing procedures.
The European Commission would be required to adopt technical requirements for smart charging by December 31, 2027, to ensure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are compatible with charging infrastructure and the electricity grid.
Electric vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes would be exempt from the requirement to install speed-limitation devices, subject to periodic review. The draft also calls for mutual recognition of national authorisations for testing and deploying automated vehicles, as well as harmonised minimum requirements.
For EU-made plug-in hybrid vehicles, the existing method of calculating carbon dioxide emissions would remain in place until the end of 2029. From 2030, it would be updated annually using real-world driving data.
The committees also proposed postponing the application of Euro 7 standards for heavy-duty vehicles by 18 months.
“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, a German Green lawmaker and co-rapporteur.
Andreas Schwab, a German lawmaker from the centre-right European People’s Party, said the vote would help reduce red tape, strengthen competitiveness and support job creation in Europe.
The draft also asks the Commission to assess and address problems faced by users of the AdBlue reagent in Finland, said Merja Kyllönen, a Finnish lawmaker from The Left and co-rapporteur.
The Commission presented its proposal in December 2025 as part of a wider automotive package. It estimates that simplifying technical requirements and testing procedures could generate annual savings of 706 million euros for industry, including small and medium-sized businesses, citizens and public authorities.
Parliament is expected to vote on its negotiating mandate for talks with EU governments during its December plenary session.
