Vehicles
Vehicles: the Circularity Vehicle Passport Is Now Law
Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 establishes a Circularity Vehicle Passport for covered passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from 1 September 2032. Published on 24 July 2026, it is a separate regime from ESPR but requires interoperability with the battery passport, the Euro 7 Environmental Vehicle Passport (EVP) and relevant ESPR passports. Manufacturers, importers and circularity operators can already structure removal, restricted-metals, recycled-content and spare-parts data.
Regulatory note: Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 was published on 24 July 2026 and entered into force on 13 August 2026. Most provisions apply from 1 September 2028. The passport obligation in Article 13(1) starts on 1 September 2032; Article 13(6) has applied since 14 September 2026 and requires implementing acts by 14 August 2030. Article 2 excludes heavy vehicle and trailer categories, L-category and special-purpose vehicles from the passport obligation; small-series vehicles and other specified categories are outside the Regulation.
From ELV Directive to Circularity Vehicle Passport
2000 / 2005
ELV Directive and 3R type-approval
The End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC) and the 3R Type-Approval Directive (2005/64/EC) set the earlier framework that the new Regulation consolidates and replaces.
Jul 2023
Commission proposal
The Commission proposes a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on the management of end-of-life vehicles (procedure 2023/0284(COD)).
Dec 2025
Provisional agreement
Parliament and Council reach a provisional agreement in trilogue on the text, including the Circularity Vehicle Passport, recycled-content targets and extended producer responsibility.
24 Jul 2026
Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 published
The final Regulation is published in the Official Journal after Parliament and Council adoption. It entered into force on 13 August 2026.
14 Aug 2030
Passport implementing-act deadline
Deadline for the Commission to define detailed technical, access, location and update rules.
1 Sep 2032
Circularity Vehicle Passport applies
The passport obligation in Article 13(1) applies to covered vehicles placed on the EU market.
Legal basis and current timeline
Sources reviewed:
Readiness Areas for Vehicles
Passport minimum — Article 13(2)
Article 13(2) covers Article 11 removal information; lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium used under exemptions; recycled content of plastics and other Article 10 materials; and the official spare-parts catalogue. Implementing acts will determine technical and access details.
Vehicle and component identity
Vehicle type and component identification, model structure and variant mapping across the bill of materials.
Recycled content and materials
Recycled-content evidence for plastics, steel and other materials, plus material declarations supporting recyclability.
Dismantling and circularity data
Dismantling information, removability of parts and circularity data for reuse, remanufacturing and recycling.
Supply chain and producer responsibility
Supplier declarations, extended-producer-responsibility data and end-of-life traceability across the value chain.
Free access and current information
Article 13(2) requires free access to the passport. Under Article 13(4), the manufacturer must keep the required information accurate, complete and up to date. Article 13(3) avoids duplicating information already accessible through another relevant passport if interoperability is ensured; implementing acts will specify the technical and access arrangements.
Who Should Start First?
The highest-priority preparation case covers:
- vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) placing vehicles on the EU market
- importers and distributors of vehicles and major components
- parts and component suppliers feeding the automotive value chain
- dismantlers, recyclers and authorised treatment facilities handling end-of-life vehicles