The European emission standards are vehicle emission standards that regulate pollution from the use of new land vehicles sold in the European Union and European Economic Area member states and the United Kingdom, and ships in European territorial waters. These standards target air pollution from exhaust gases, brake dust, and tyre rubber pollution, and are defined through a series of European Union directives that progressively introduced stricter limits to reduce environmental impact.

Euro 7, agreed in 2024 and came into force in 2026, includes non-exhaust emissions such as particulates from tyres and brakes. Until 2030 fossil fueled vehicles are allowed to have dirtier brakes than electric vehicles.

Background

In the European Union, emissions of nitrogen oxides (), total hydrocarbon (THC), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) are regulated for most vehicle types, including cars, trucks (lorries), locomotives, tractors and similar machinery, barges, but excluding seagoing ships and aeroplanes. For each vehicle type, different standards apply. Compliance is determined by running the engine at a standardised test cycle. Non-compliant vehicles cannot be sold in the EU, but new standards do not apply to vehicles already on the roads. No use of specific technologies is mandated to meet the standards, though available technology is considered when setting the standards. New models introduced must meet current or planned standards, but minor lifecycle model revisions may continue to be offered with pre-compliant engines.

Along with emissions standards, the European Union has also mandated a number of computer on-board diagnostics for the purposes of increasing safety for drivers. These standards are used in relation to the emissions standards.

During the early 2000s, Australia began harmonising Australian Design Rule certification for new motor vehicle emissions with Euro categories. Euro III was introduced on 1 January 2006 and is progressively being introduced to align with European introduction dates.

Euro 7 was formally approved by EU countries in April 2024.

Toxic emission: stages and legal framework

The stages are typically referred to as Euro 1, Euro 2, Euro 3, Euro 4, Euro 5, Euro 6 and Euro 7 for Light Duty Vehicle standards.

The legal framework consists in a series of directives, each amendments to the 1970 Directive 70/220/EEC. The following is a summary list of the standards, when they come into force, what they apply to, and which EU directives provide the definition of the standard. Euro 1 (1992): For passenger cars—91/441/EEC. Also for passenger cars and light lorries—93/59/EEC. Euro 2 (1996) for passenger cars—94/12/EC (& 96/69/EC) For motorcycle—2002/51/EC (row A)—2006/120/EC Euro 3 (2000) for any vehicle—98/69/EC For motorcycle—2002/51/EC (row B)—2006/120/EC Euro 4 (2005) for any vehicle—98/69/EC (& 2002/80/EC) Euro 5 (2009) for light passenger and commercial vehicles—715/2007/EC Euro 6 (2014) for light passenger and commercial vehicles—459/2012/EC and 2016/646/EU Euro 7 (2026) for light- and heavy-duty vehicles—2024/1257/EU

These limits supersede the original directive on emission limits 70/220/EEC.

The classifications for vehicle category are defined by: Commission Directive 2001/116/EC of 20 December 2001, adapting to technical progress Council Directive 70/156/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers Directive 2002/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 March 2002 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheeled motor vehicles and repealing Council Directive 92/61/EEC

Emission standards for passenger cars Emission standards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are summarized in the following tables. Since the Euro 2 stage, EU regulations introduce different emission limits for diesel and petrol vehicles. Diesels have more stringent CO standards but are allowed higher emissions. Petrol-powered vehicles are exempted from particulate matter (PM) standards through to the Euro 4 stage, but vehicles with direct injection engines are subject to a limit of 0.0045 g/km for Euro 5 and Euro 6. A particulate number standard (P) or (PN) has been introduced in 2011 with Euro 5b for diesel engines and, in 2014, with Euro 6 for petrol engines.

From a technical perspective, European emissions standards do not reflect everyday usage of the vehicle as manufacturers are allowed to lighten the vehicle by removing the back seats, improve aerodynamics by taping over grilles and door handles, or reduce the load on the generator by switching off the headlights, the passenger compartment fan, or simply disconnecting the alternator which charges the battery.

+European emission standards for passenger cars (Category M), g/km Tier Date (type approval) Date (first registration) CO THC NMHC HC+ PM PN [#/km] Brake PM10 Diesel Euro 1 July 1992 January 1993 2.72 (3.16) – – – 0.97 (1.13) 0.14 (0.18) – – Euro 2 January 1996 January 1997 1.0 – – – 0.7 0.08 – – Euro 3 January 2000 January 2001 0.66 – – 0.500 0.56 0.05 – – Euro 4 January 2005 January 2006 0.50 – – 0.250 0.30 0.025 – – Euro 5a September 2009 January 2011 0.50 – – 0.180 0.230 0.005 – – Euro 5b September 2011 January 2013 0.50 – – 0.180 0.230 0.0045 – Euro 6b September 2014 September 2015 0.50 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6c – September 2018 0.50 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6d-Temp September 2017 September 2019 0.50 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6d January 2020 January 2021 0.50 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6e September 2023 September 2024 0.50 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6e-bis January 2025 January 2026 0.50 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 –Euro 7 November 2026 November 2027 0.50 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 0.007 Petrol Euro 1 July 1992 January 1993 2.72 (3.16) – – – 0.97 (1.13) – – – Euro 2 January 1996 January 1997 2.2 – – – 0.5 – – – Euro 3 January 2000 January 2001 2.3 0.20 – 0.150 – – – – Euro 4 January 2005 January 2006 1.0 0.10 – 0.080 – – – – Euro 5a September 2009 January 2011 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.005 – – Euro 5b September 2011 January 2013 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – – Euro 6b September 2014 September 2015 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6c – September 2018 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6d-Temp September 2017 September 2019 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6d January 2020 January 2021 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6e September 2023 September 2024 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6e-bis January 2025 January 2026 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 –Euro 7 November 2026 November 2027 1.0 0.10 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 0.007 ElectricEuro 7 November 2026 November 2027 – – – – – – – 0.003

Emission standards for motorcycles (two- and three-wheelers) – Category L The Euro emissions regulations for two- and three-wheelers (motorcycles) were first introduced in 1999 — some seven years after the cars were first regulated. In further difference to passenger cars (where three-way catalytic converters were de facto required from Euro I), it was first with the introduction of the Euro III emissions standard in 2006 that motorcycles were de facto required to use three-way catalytic converters. With the introduction of Euro V, standard two-stroke engine motorcycles are challenged by the strict HC and PM emissions limits. It is expected that technologies such as direct injection, combined with petrol particulate filters, could be needed for these motorcycle engine types to meet the Euro V demands.

+ European emission standards for two- and three-wheelers (Category L), g/km Tier Date CO HC PM NMHC Euro I 1999 13.0 0.3 3.0 Euro II 2003 5.5 0.3 1.0Euro III20062.00.150.3Euro IV20161.140.090.17Euro V20201.000.060.100.00450.068Euro V+20241.000.060.100.00450.068

Emission standards for light commercial vehicles

+European emission standards for light commercial vehicles ≤ 1,305 kg reference mass (Category N1 Class I), g/km Tier Date (type approval) Date (first registration) CO THC NMHC HC+ PM PN [#/km] Brake PM10 Diesel Euro 1 October 1993 October 1994 2.72 – – – 0.97 0.14 – – Euro 2 January 1997 October 1997 1.0 – – – 0.7 0.08 – – Euro 3 January 2000 January 2001 0.64 – – 0.50 0.56 0.05 – – Euro 4 January 2005 January 2006 0.50 – – 0.25 0.30 0.025 – – Euro 5a September 2009 January 2011 0.500 – – 0.180 0.230 0.005 – – Euro 5b September 2011 January 2013 0.500 – – 0.180 0.230 0.0045 – Euro 6b September 2014 September 2015 0.500 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6c – September 2018 0.500 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6d-Temp September 2017 September 2019 0.500 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6d January 2020 January 2021 0.500 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 6e September 2023 September 2024 0.500 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 – Euro 7 November 2026 November 2027 0.500 – – 0.080 0.170 0.0045 0.007 Petrol Euro 1 October 1993 October 1994 2.72 – – – 0.97 – – – Euro 2 January 1997 October 1997 2.2 – – – 0.5 – – – Euro 3 January 2000 January 2001 2.3 0.20 – 0.15 – – – – Euro 4 January 2005 January 2006 1.0 0.10 – 0.08 – – – – Euro 5a September 2009 January 2011 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.005 – – Euro 5b September 2011 January 2013 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – – Euro 6b September 2014 September 2015 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6c – September 2018 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6d-Temp September 2017 September 2019 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6d January 2020 January 2021 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 6e September 2023 September 2024 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 – Euro 7 November 2026 November 2027 1.000 0.100 0.068 0.060 – 0.0045 0.007 ElectricEuro 7 November 2026 November 2027 – – – – – – – 0.003

+European emission standards for light commercial vehicles 1,305–1,760 kg reference mass (Category N1 Class II), g/km Tier Date (type approval) Date (first registration) CO THC NMHC HC+ PM PN [#/km] Diesel Euro 1 October 1993 October 1994 5.17 – – – 1.4 0.19 – Euro 2 January 1998 October 1998 1.25 – – – 1.0 0.12 – Euro 3 January 2001 January 2002 0.80 – – 0.65 0.72 0.07 – Euro 4 January 2006 January 2007 0.63 – – 0.33 0.39 0.04 – Euro 5a September 2010 January 2012 0.630 – – 0.235 0.295 0.005 – Euro 5b September 2011 January 2013 0.630 – – 0.235 0.295 0.0045 Euro 6b September 2015 September 2016 0.630 – – 0.105 0.195 0.0045 Euro 6c – September 2019 0.630 – – 0.105 0.195 0.0045 Euro 6d-Temp September 2018 September 2020 0.630 – – 0.105 0.195 0.0045 Euro 6d January 2021 January 2022 0.630 – – 0.105 0.195 0.0045 Euro 6e September 2023 September 2024 0.630 – – 0.105 0.195 0.0045 Petrol Euro 1 October 1993 October 1994 5.17 – – – 1.4 – – Euro 2 January 1998 October 1998 4.0 – – – 0.6 – – Euro 3 January 2001 January 2002 4.17 0.25 – 0.18 – – – Euro 4 January 2006 January 2007 1.81 0.130 – 0.10 – – – Euro 5a September 2010 January 2012 1.810 0.130 0.090 0.075 – 0.005 – Euro 5b September 2011 January 2013 1.810 0.130 0.090 0.075 – 0.0045 – Euro 6b September 2015 September 2016 1.810 0.130 0.090 0.075 – 0.0045 Euro 6c – September 2019 1.810 0.130 0.090 0.075 – 0.0045 Euro 6d-Temp September 2018 September 2020 1.810 0.130 0.090 0.075 – 0.0045 Euro 6d January 2021 January 2022 1.810 0.130 0.090 0.075 – 0.0045 Euro 6e September 2023 September 2024 1.810 0.130 0.090 0.075 – 0.0045