The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has welcomed the recent backing from both the European Parliament and the Council for a three-year averaging mechanism to be included in emissions compliance regulations for cars and vans. The proposed framework aims to offer vehicle manufacturers greater flexibility in meeting CO₂ targets during the transition to zero-emission mobility.
The mechanism would enable manufacturers to average their emissions performance over three years, rather than on an annual basis, allowing for fluctuations in market demand and production cycles. ACEA emphasized that this flexibility is especially important amid current market challenges, including the slower-than-expected consumer uptake of electric vehicles due to insufficient enabling conditions.
“The introduction of a three-year averaging mechanism is a step in the right direction that acknowledges the complexities and the ongoing difficulties of the automotive market, with slow market uptake and a lack of domestic value chain for batteries,” said Sigrid de Vries, ACEA Director General.”
“While this provides some necessary flexibility for manufacturers in the short term, we need a long-term decarbonisation strategy including more charging stations, purchase and tax incentives, fairer energy prices while keeping the industry a competitive powerhouse and securing the EU’s strategic autonomy on critical technologies. We look forward to discussing this during the next Strategic Dialogue with the European Commission,” de Vries added.
ACEA also stressed the importance of the upcoming review of the CO₂ regulation for cars and vans, as outlined in the EU’s Automotive Action Plan. The association urged policymakers to ensure the review is both robust and comprehensive, warning that short-term measures alone are insufficient to realign the industry’s transition trajectory.
