The EU imposes recycling targets for the automotive industry and strict rules on the export of old cars.

The European Parliament and the Council have reached a provisional agreement to transform the life cycle of vehicles, from design to scrapping, requiring manufacturers to use recycled materials.

Brussels, December 12, 2025 European negotiators have concluded an agreement on new circularity standards for the automotive sector. The regulation targets the entire life cycle of vehicles, aiming to reduce waste and recover valuable materials from the approximately 6.5 million cars that reach the end of their life each year in Europe.

In short

New vehicles will have to contain at least 25% recycled plastic within ten years.

Manufacturers will be financially responsible for the collection and treatment of end-of-life vehicles.

The export of non-functional vehicles to countries outside the EU will be prohibited.

According to the agreed text, the design of cars will need to be rethought to allow for easy disassembly of parts and components. Legislators have set mandatory targets for the use of recycled plastic: 15% within six years of the rules coming into force and 25% within ten years. A quarter of this recycled plastic must come from closed-loop sources, that is, from other end-of-life vehicles. The Commission will also assess the possibility of introducing similar targets for glass, aluminum, and critical raw materials.

A major point of the reform is the extension of producer responsibility (EPR). Three years after the law comes into force, car manufacturers will have to cover the costs of collecting and treating vehicles that have reached the end of their life cycle. Additionally, to combat the illegal export of "wrecks" and pollution in third countries, it has been decided to prohibit the export of vehicles that do not have a valid technical inspection certificate, a measure applicable after five years.

Co-rapporteurs Jens Gieseke and Paulius Saudargas emphasized that these measures represent important steps for resource security and environmental protection. They stated that the targets are realistic so as not to burden the industry and that the aim was to reduce bureaucracy and ensure fair competition.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/ue-impune-tinte-de-reciclare-pentru-industria-auto-si-reguli-stricte-la-exportul-masinilor-vechi