Euroklasser

Euroklasser, or European emission standards, are a system of regulatory classifications established by the European Union to limit the pollutants that new road vehicles may emit. The purpose is to reduce air pollution, protect public health, and improve environmental quality across EU member states and related markets. The standards cover most new vehicles, including passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and, for heavier classes, trucks and buses, and they are incorporated into the EU type-approval framework that governs vehicle sales.

Each Euro level, named Euro 1, Euro 2, Euro 3, and so forth, sets numerical limits for pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and particulate matter (PM). Diesel engines incur especially stringent PM limits, and over time additional technologies—such as catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction—have been introduced to meet the increasingly strict requirements. The progression from Euro 1 through Euro 6 (and planned future updates) reflects a continuous tightening of these limits.

Testing and enforcement are integral parts of the framework. Vehicles undergo standardized laboratory tests to determine compliance, with WLTP providing more representative fuel and emissions data in recent years. Real Driving Emissions (RDE) tests have been added to verify performance under real-world conditions, and market authorities oversee compliance during vehicle registration and after-market surveillance.

Impact of the Euroklasser includes substantial technological advances in emission-control systems and a shift toward cleaner powertrains. The standards influence global manufacturers and have informed regulatory approaches in other regions, often aligning with international UNECE regulations. As of the mid-2020s, Euro 6 remains widely implemented for light-duty vehicles, while Euro 7 doctrines were under discussion for further tightening future limits.