Under Euro 6, cars must continue to adhere to the emissions standards for five years and 62,000 miles but Euro 7 extends this period to 10 years and 124,000 miles. It also becomes a requirement for car manufacturers to fit sensors to their cars that will detect engine faults that may cause emissions to rise above the Euro 7 limits.
Electric cars don’t escape attention either as the durability and performance of battery packs in EVs and plug-in hybrids will also be assessed to make sure they retain their charge capacity and performance at specified levels.
Are there any exemptions to the Euro 7 emissions standards?
The vast majority of cars going through the type approval process will have to meet the Euro 7 standards, but there is an exemption for small volume manufacturers that produce fewer than 10,000 vehicles a year. Cars from these firms will not have to comply with Euro 7 until at least 2030.
Like the other Euro emissions standards, Euro 7 will not apply retrospectively and is only relevant for new cars that are type approved and registered after the standards come into force. As we’ve said, after 10 years and 124,000 miles, even cars originally sold under Euro 7 no longer need to meet the standards.
How will car emissions be tested for Euro 7?
The testing for Euro 7 will continue to be done under the RDE (Real Driving Emissions) testing procedure used for Euro 6. Tests can be carried out by authorities or manufacturers themselves but the guidelines governing how the tests are performed are fixed. For Euro 7 there have been extensions to the testing process so cars are additionally tested over short trips and at different operating temperatures to better replicate how they are used in different countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
All cars sold after July 2025 will have to meet the Euro 7 emissions standards. There will be an exemption until 2030 for low volume manufacturers making fewer than 10,000 cars per year.
It’s widely accepted by the European Commission and car manufacturers that technology needed to make cars comply with the new Euro 7 rules will make cars cost more. They disagree on how much more. The European Commission estimates a £156 to £390 increase in manufacturing costs while a report commissioned by manufacturers indicates this could be £1,740.
A report commissioned by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) predicts a 3.5 per cent average fuel efficiency penalty attached to Euro 7.
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