1 minute read / August 14, 2026
The End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation entered into force on 13 Aug 2026, revising the rules that govern the design, production, collection, and end-of-life treatment of vehicles.
It aims to strengthen circularity in the automotive sector by improving resource efficiency, increasing the recovery and reuse of valuable materials, and enhancing the environmental performance of vehicles throughout their lifecycle.
They will also help secure a more stable supply of secondary raw materials, reducing Europe’s dependence on imported virgin resources and supporting a more resilient industrial base.
The new rules encourage vehicle design that makes dismantling, reuse, recycling and recovery easier, while improving the information available on the removal and replacement of components during use and at the end of a vehicle’s life.
This will help both the automotive and recycling industries recover higher-quality components and materials more efficiently.
The Regulation also establishes requirements concerning the use of recycled materials in new vehicles. It sets mandatory targets for recycled plastic content of 15% from 2032 and 25% from 2036. In addition, the Commission will establish recycled content targets for steel and aluminium, which should apply from 2033.
