The Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles replaces and modernises the framework introduced by the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC), which established common EU rules on the collection and environmentally sound treatment of end-of-life vehicles, restricted the use of hazardous substances and introduced targets for reuse, recycling and recovery.
The new Regulation also replaces Directive 2005/64/EC on the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to their reusability, recyclability and recoverability (“3R type-approval Directive”, adopted in 2005), which established basic rules on the recyclability of new vehicles as a condition for their access to the EU market.
Since these Directives were adopted, vehicles have become more complex and increasingly advanced, with more electronics, plastics, and other materials, including critical raw materials.
The new Regulation responds to these developments by introducing circularity requirements, mandatory recycled-content obligations, stronger producer responsibility, improved vehicle traceability and higher standards for dismantling and material recovery.
Together, this improves both the demand and the supply sides of recycled materials and vehicle parts.