EU: New rules on car labelling

 

The EU Commission has published a call for evidence for an impact assessment of a planned revision of the EU rules on car labelling.

Directive 1999/94/EC (commonly referred to as the Car Labelling Directive) mandates that information on fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions of new passenger cars sold or leased in the EU be made accessible to consumers. The goal is to support consumers in making informed decisions regarding the environmental impact and fuel efficiency of the vehicles they purchase or lease. By providing this information, the Directive also indirectly encourages a shift in demand towards low- and zero-emission vehicles, aiding manufacturers in meeting CO₂ emission targets set under Regulation (EU) 2019/631 for light-duty vehicles.

The Directive’s core objective is to ensure consumers have clear, consistent access to data on fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for new cars available in the EU market. This supports more sustainable purchasing behavior by promoting vehicles with lower or zero emissions, thereby contributing to climate goals and helping manufacturers comply with emissions standards.

However, an evaluation of the Directive revealed shortcomings. It does not adequately address the needs of certain groups of vehicle buyers, such as those purchasing zero-emission vehicles, new light commercial vehicles, or used cars. Additionally, the lack of harmonisation across EU Member States has led to inconsistent implementation. Moreover, as consumers increasingly turn to digital platforms for vehicle information, the Directive’s limited digital coverage has become a significant gap.

These challenges reduce the Directive’s effectiveness in stimulating demand for zero-emission vehicles and in supporting the EU’s broader regulatory framework for reducing emissions from new vehicles.

To address this, a new initiative is being developed to modernize the Directive’s goals and provisions in line with evolving vehicle markets and technology trends. Key updates under consideration include revising the label’s content—particularly to include clearer, more relevant information about zero-emission vehicles—and enhancing the role of digital tools and online channels.

An impact assessment will evaluate various policy options compared to the current framework. It will focus on:

• Broadening the scope of the Directive (e.g., vehicle categories covered),
• Harmonizing the label across Member States,
• Updating the label’s design and content, and
• Expanding the use of digital information channels.

To find out more about automotive regulations in the EU, please do not hesitate to contact the Institute for Global Automotive Regulatory Research.