European Cities Warn That Accepting US Automobile Requirements Will Threat European Lives

Not each European is on board with US automobiles

In a lately printed letter addressed to European Union officers, dated October 20, public officers from distinguished European cities equivalent to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, in addition to greater than 75 civil society organizations within the area, have warned that the EU should revisit what it calls a “rapidly agreed commerce deal” between it and the US, during which the area is intent on accepting decrease US car requirements with reference to imported automobiles.

Per the letter dated October 20, the signees warn that aligning European requirements for vehicles with the laxer guidelines within the US would undermine the EU’s progress in growing highway security, regulating the impression of air air pollution on public well being and the local weather, and sustaining the EU’s industrial competitiveness.

Accepting American automobiles will make European roads much less protected, the letter claims

The letter primarily revolves across the EU–US Joint Assertion on commerce, signed on August 21, 2025, during which it acknowledged that “with respect to vehicles, the US and the European Union intend to just accept and supply mutual recognition to one another’s requirements.”

This has the signees apprehensive, as they level to June 2021 information that reveals that European car security rules helped cut back European highway deaths by 36% since 2010. In the identical interval, information from the USDOT reveals that fatalities on US roads elevated by 30%, with pedestrian deaths up by 80% and bicycle owner deaths up by 50%. Europe credit its developments to necessary superior applied sciences, equivalent to computerized emergency braking and lane-keep help programs, in addition to required security measures, together with pedestrian safety options like entrance deformation zones and rules towards sharp edges like these discovered on the Tesla Cybertruck.

“Europe constructed its fame on pioneering strong car requirements. To just accept decrease US requirements would undo a long time of EU progress,” the signatories wrote of their letter. “The implications of such a transfer for European highway security can be profound.”

As well as, they fear that by accepting the decrease car requirements of their American counterparts, there would possible be a wave of what they are saying are “outsized, US pick-ups and SUVs” onto European roads. The signatories really feel they’re unfit for European roads, as they discover them considerably heavier and extra aggressive in collisions, and a larger danger not simply to pedestrians and cyclists but in addition to drivers of EU-market automobiles.

Accepting American automobiles will make European air dirtier

Along with the laxer security rules on American automobiles in comparison with these offered within the EU, the letter’s signatories state that whereas the EU is transferring to set limits on the contribution of brake and tire put on to air air pollution by 2026, the US is within the technique of weakening car air air pollution guidelines. By adopting these rules, the signatories warn that new imports might “enhance European publicity to pollution linked to bronchial asthma, most cancers and quite a few cardiovascular and neurological circumstances.”

The letter mainly pointed to the EPA’s July 29 announcement that it was rescinding the landmark 2009 endangerment discovering, a call that set the course for rules on greenhouse fuel emissions, equivalent to these from automobiles and energy vegetation. On the time, it famous that if its proposal is finalized, greenhouse fuel emissions rules for motor automobiles and engines can be repealed, which it claims would restore shopper selection and permit Individuals to buy a protected and inexpensive automobile for his or her households.

“With this proposal, the Trump EPA is proposing to finish sixteen years of uncertainty for automakers and American shoppers,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated on the time. “[…] If finalized, rescinding the Endangerment Discovering and ensuing rules would finish $1 trillion or extra in hidden taxes on American companies and households.”

Closing ideas

The signatories additionally warn that adopting these requirements for automobiles imported from the US might have drastic results on jobs within the area. They famous that though manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes, and Stellantis already construct numerous automobiles within the US, “accepting decrease US car requirements would speed up this development, as firms shift manufacturing to keep away from EU guidelines and re-import automobiles underneath weaker US requirements.” Such a development might deliver “large-scale job losses not solely amongst carmakers however throughout Europe’s provide chain.”

Whereas the argument for a unified set of requirements and rules, together with crash security and emissions requirements, looks as if a good suggestion at first, it’s important to acknowledge the variations between American and European roads from an infrastructure standpoint, whereas additionally accounting for our driving habits. Whether or not or not this letter does something to change the EU’s choices stays to be seen, however one factor is for positive: growing US imports within the US isn’t as simple because it may need appeared.

Concerning the writer

James Ochoa is an automotive journalist who brings a technical basis to his work, having educated as an automotive technician earlier than learning journalism at Rutgers College. Previous to becoming a member of Autoblog, his expertise included overlaying auto business information and Wall Avenue evaluation for TheStreet. His perspective blends hands-on mechanical data with a eager curiosity within the intersections of automobile tradition with vogue, music, and gaming. An lively member of the native automobile neighborhood, he’s based mostly within the New York Metro Space.