Small zero-emission vehicles meeting the Union-assembly and origin criteria qualify as 'made in the EU' for the purposes of the small zero-emission vehicle super-credit mechanism under the vehicle CO2 emission performance standards.
Manufacturers of small zero-emission vehicles made in the Union are offered support, and this is not law yet.
Why it matters
This is a Commission proposal: it is not law yet, and it can change before it is.
- It is Art. 14(1); Annex III, Part III, in the Industrial Accelerator Act. as of 2026-08-17
- The act gives its timing as: Linked to the CO2 emission performance standards regime for new light duty vehicles prior to 2035. as of 2026-08-17
- It names 2 industries by name: Automotive and Batteries and solar. as of 2026-08-17
- Compliance is checked by self-declaration, per vehicle model. as of 2026-08-17
The rule
Vehicle assembled in the Union and either ≥70% EU ex-works content (excl. battery) or EU-origin battery cells among ≥3 main battery components
Small zero-emission vehicles meeting the Union-assembly and origin criteria qualify as 'made in the EU' for the purposes of the small zero-emission vehicle super-credit mechanism under the vehicle CO2 emission performance standards.
Who is affected
Burden drivers
Source text
For the purposes of Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 [as amended by the Proposal for a Regulation of 16 December 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards CO2 emission performance standards for new light duty vehicles and vehicle labelling], the ‘made in the EU’ criterion for small zero- emission vehicles shall comply with the criteria set out in Part III of Annex III to this Regulation
View source →Settled later in secondary legislation. The super-credit mechanism itself is set out in the separate, not-yet-adopted Proposal of 16 December 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631.