Meeting Euro 7 Regulations

As the successor to Euro 6, the Euro 7 regulation introduces more comprehensive and stringent emissions requirements for road vehicles, representing a significant step toward cleaner and more sustainable mobility. In addition to tightening certain exhaust emissions requirements, Euro 7 expands the regulatory scope to cover non-exhaust emissions, such as particles from brakes and tyres, as well as battery durability for electric and hybrid vehicles. This article explains what Euro 7 means for the automotive industry and outlines how manufacturers can adapt their technologies, operations, and long-term strategies to remain compliant and competitive.

What is the Euro 7 Emissions Regulation?

Euro 7 is the European Union’s latest vehicle emissions regulation and applies in a technology-neutral manner to petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Unlike previous emissions standards, Euro 7 goes beyond tailpipe emissions by introducing limits for non-exhaust pollutants generated by brakes and tyres, which contribute to particulate matter and microplastic pollution. As a result, OEMs must consider emissions performance across a wider range of vehicle systems and over a longer portion of the vehicle lifecycle when designing and engineering new models.

According to Lawrence Allan, Automotive Content Editor, Euro 7 will come into force in November 2026. "Originally, Euro 7 regulations were expected to begin in mid-2025. However, the timeframe has been pushed back due to debate over the strictness of the rules.

EU regulation 2024/1257, published on the official European Union website, states in Article 10 that the first level of Euro 7 emissions standard will come into effect from 29th November 2026.

This date applies to newly launched cars and vans rather than those launched prior to this date – brand new models will not gain EU type approval without meeting this.

The next stage comes on 29 November 2027, where all cars and vans on sale – including those that were put on sale before Euro 7 came into force – must meet the emissions standards or be prohibited from being sold to customers.

Other types of vehicles, such as buses, trucks and trailers, will be subject to different dates further into the future."

Technology and Engineering Solutions to Meet Euro 7

Meeting Euro 7 requirements will require the adoption of advanced vehicle technologies and updated engineering approaches. Enhanced onboard monitoring systems and more sophisticated control strategies will be needed to ensure emissions performance remains compliant under a broader range of operating conditions and over extended vehicle lifetimes.

The industry’s broader shift toward SDVs can support these objectives by enabling more flexible calibration, continuous optimisation of emissions-related systems, and improved monitoring through software updates and data analytics. While not explicitly mandated by Euro 7, such capabilities are increasingly seen as important enablers of long-term compliance.

In parallel, accelerating the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles remains a key strategy for reducing exhaust emissions and supporting longer-term environmental objectives. However, Euro 7 makes clear that non-exhaust emissions and component durability must also be addressed, regardless of powertrain choice.

In a recent interview with Automotive IQ, Ishmaeel Ghouri, Lead Engineer at JLR, highlighted several priority areas for OEMs, including:

• Developing greener, low-emission friction materials
• Improving regenerative braking efficiency
• Innovating and upgrading existing brake system designs

Operational and Digital Strategies for Euro 7 Compliance

Beyond vehicle hardware, Euro 7 compliance is closely linked to digital transformation across automotive operations. Manufacturers must increasingly rely on data-driven processes to support emissions monitoring, validation, reporting, and lifecycle compliance. Digital tools across R&D, manufacturing, in-use monitoring, and aftersales can help enable faster optimisation cycles, improved traceability, and more robust regulatory reporting.

As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, robust cyber security also becomes critical to protecting the integrity of emissions-related data and ensuring vehicle safety. While Euro 7 does not establish a standalone cyber security framework, these requirements should be addressed in alignment with UN Regulation No. 155, which sets out cyber security management system requirements for vehicle type approval.

An article by VicOne notes that, with the right system architecture, Euro 7 and UN R155 can be mutually reinforcing. While UN R155 establishes a framework for managing cyber security risks across vehicle systems, Euro 7 places additional emphasis on the integrity and reliability of emissions-relevant functions and data. To support compliance, manufacturers may need to:

• Minimise vulnerabilities through a tailored Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment (TARA) aligned with UN R155 Annex 5
• Harden emissions-critical electronic control units, such as onboard monitoring systems (OBM), onboard diagnostics (OBD), onboard fuel and energy consumption monitoring (OBFCM), dosing systems, and battery management systems reporting state of health
• Maintain continuous detection and response mechanisms capable of identifying cybersecurity threats in real time
• Document residual risks within the cybersecurity management system submitted for type approval

Under UN R155, risk acceptability is assessed prior to type approval using an OEM-defined methodology based on likelihood and impact. By contrast, Euro 7 places greater regulatory emphasis on post-approval conformity and the environmental consequences of failures affecting emissions-relevant systems, making data integrity a critical prerequisite for market access.

The Role of Digital Transformation in Euro 7 Compliance

Digital transformation plays a central role in maintaining Euro 7 compliance throughout the vehicle lifecycle. As regulatory expectations extend further into real-world operation and durability, OEMs face growing challenges in managing complex emissions data, ensuring traceability, and safeguarding sensitive information from cyber threats. Strong cyber security frameworks, supported by robust data governance and analytics, are therefore essential to maintaining regulatory confidence.

Advanced data management capabilities enable real-time monitoring, validation, and reporting of emissions performance, improving transparency and allowing manufacturers to respond more quickly to emerging compliance risks or regulatory changes.

As Marek Cendrowicz notes, digital transformation in the automotive industry plays a crucial role in regulatory compliance by supporting documentation management, process traceability, and adherence to emissions, safety, and quality requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

By integrating digital tools, analytics, and cyber security measures into their operations, OEMs can not only meet Euro 7 requirements but also improve operational efficiency, accelerate innovation, and support broader sustainability objectives. In this sense, digital transformation is not merely a compliance enabler, but a strategic foundation for long-term competitiveness in an evolving regulatory landscape.