The proposal comes from the European Commission and has not yet been ratified. It aims to phase out older vehicles for newer models in the name of protecting the environment. It introduces the concept of “residual vehicles,” which are those that experience breakdowns related to major parts such as the transmission, chassis, engine, brakes or steering wheel and are upwards of 15 years.
The regulation also outlines specific circumstances under which a car can be deemed residual or technically not repairable, such as being submerged, burned, welded or cut, or possessing technical defects that cannot be reversed. Once a car has been slapped with the “residual” label, it can no longer undergo significant repairs and cannot be resold; it can only be scrapped. One of the more controversial aspects of the proposal is that vehicles that need major parts replaced or whose repair costs exceed their market value may also be classified as residual.
This aligns with the European Union’s ambitious “Fit for 55” program, which is aimed at reducing direct transport emissions from their 1990 levels by 55% by the year 2030 and eliminating them entirely by 2050. As part of this goal, they are seeking to ban new combustion engine cars starting in 2035, with exceptions only being made for vehicles that run on any potential synthetic fuels that may be used in the future....<<<Read More>>>....
