ACEA: CBAM implementation at risk amid regulatory delays
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has warned that with just two months remaining before the final implementation phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2026, the continued absence of key legislation is creating serious uncertainty.
In a statement issued in Brussels, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) said that automotive producers have already devoted significant resources to CBAM reporting and are preparing to fully comply once the mechanism enters into force. However, the association warned that with CBAM charges due to apply from January 2026, many critical implementation details remain unknown, creating growing concern across the sector.
According to ACEA, the automotive industry is among the sectors most affected by CBAM. European manufacturers import large volumes of steel and aluminium, and accurate reporting of embedded carbon emissions in these materials is essential for the mechanism’s proper functioning.
ACEA underlined that the European Commission has yet to publish guidance on key elements such as emission calculation methodologies, default values, the sale and repurchase of CBAM certificates, and the role of accredited verifiers.
ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries stated: “Automakers are committed to making CBAM work and have already invested heavily in compliance operations. But the fact that such critical aspects remain unclear makes a smooth implementation on 1 January 2026 almost impossible. The Commission must urgently publish the missing texts and provide flexibility for businesses in the coming year.”
New car registrations in EU down 2.6 percent in January
In January this year, new passenger car registrations in the EU fell by 2.6 percent year on year to 831,201 units, according to the European association of car manufacturers ACEA.
In the given month, three major markets, namely, France (-6.2%), Italy (-5.8%) and Germany (-2.8%), posted decreases, while in Spain new car registrations went up by 5.3 percent, all year-on-year basis.
EU car registrations up 1,4% year on year, August down 18,3%
In August this year, new passenger car registrations in the EU decreased by 18.3 percent year on year to 643,637 units, according to the European association of car manufacturers ACEA.
In the given month, all four major markets, namely Germany. (-27.8%), France (-24.3%), Italy. (-13.4%) and Spain (-6.5%) posted declines.
In the first eight months of this year, new car registrations grew by 1.4 percent year on year to 7.2 million units.
Spain (+4.5%) and Italy (+3.8%) showed positive but modest performances. On the other hand, the French and the German markets saw their results stagnate (-0.5% and -0.3% respectively).