Small EVs and Enhanced Child Safety Central to New Draft EU Automotive Rules

European Parliament committees have voted to approve draft rules aimed at boosting electric vehicles and cutting red tape for the automotive industry, proposing measures expected to yield €706 million in estimated annual savings for manufacturers, citizens, and governments.

The draft rules, which form part of a broader package supporting the automotive sector’s transition to clean mobility, were adopted on Wednesday with 105 votes in favour, 39 against, and 21 abstentions during a joint vote by Parliament’s Environment, Internal Market, and Transport Committees.

To encourage the development and market uptake of clean mobility, MEPs agreed to establish a new category of “small electric vehicles,” defined as EU-made passenger cars with a maximum length of 4.2 metres. The draft legislation also introduces definitions for “highly efficient EVs”—EU-made cars meeting strict electric energy consumption thresholds—and “zero emission vans made in the EU.” Committee members acknowledged the importance of targeted support measures to boost sales, including a super-credit mechanism under updated CO₂ emission performance standards.

New Safety Features and Reduced Red Tape

The text introduces several new safety requirements that go beyond the European Commission’s original proposal. Under the draft rules, passenger cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes must be equipped with a child presence detection system that operates after the vehicle is switched off or locked. Additionally, door handles for these vehicles must be designed to ensure doors can be opened mechanically from both the inside and outside during emergencies.

To reduce administrative burdens and cut costs for European manufacturers, the committees proposed several technical adjustments. The Commission would be required to adopt technical requirements for smart charging by 31 December 2027 to ensure interoperability between electric vehicles and the charging grid. Furthermore, electric vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes would be exempt from speed limitation device obligations, subject to periodic evaluation.

The proposal also introduces mutual recognition of national authorisations for testing and deploying automated vehicles. For EU-made plug-in hybrid vehicles, the CO₂ emissions calculation method will remain unchanged until the end of 2029, moving to an annual update based on real-world driving data starting in 2030. Additionally, the application of EURO7 standards for heavy-duty vehicles would be postponed by 18 months.

The draft regulation builds on a December 2025 Commission proposal to simplify technical requirements and testing procedures. Lawmakers also requested that the Commission move quickly to assess and fix issues faced by users of the AdBlue reagent in Finland.

The European Parliament’s mandate for negotiations with EU governments is expected to face a vote during the December 2026 plenary session.