This Week in Automotive — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Commission clarifies CO2 reporting for heavy-duty vehicles; wider 5.9 GHz ITS channel approved; Ireland gets excise waiver for diesel; anti-dumping on ferro-silicon extended; new EU-Mexico agreement signed.
July 26, 2026 to August 01, 2026
Commission clarifies CO2 reporting for heavy-duty vehicles; wider 5.9 GHz ITS channel approved; Ireland gets excise waiver for diesel; anti-dumping on ferro-silicon extended; new EU-Mexico agreement signed.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission clarifies CO2 reporting obligations for heavy-duty vehicles under Regulation (EU) 2019/1242
On 24 July 2026, the Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1815, publishing the list of specific CO2 emissions values per manufacturer and the average specific CO2 emissions of all new heavy-duty vehicles registered in the EU for 2024, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/1242. For 2024, the average specific CO2 emissions of new heavy-duty vehicles amounted to 35.2 g/tkm. The Decision includes details on the zero- and low-emission vehicle factors, and emission credits per manufacturer. The scope was updated to reflect amendments introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/1610, expanding reporting requirements to additional vehicle sub-groups.
Commission paves way for wider 5.9 GHz radio channels for road ITS safety applications
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1800, published on 28 July 2026, amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426 to introduce wider 20 MHz channels in the Union-harmonised 5.9 GHz spectrum. This measure supports the deployment of advanced safety-related applications for road intelligent transport systems (ITS), reflecting technical recommendations from the CEPT Report 91. The amendment ensures Member States make these channels available while maintaining protection for urban rail ITS in the adjacent band.
Council gives Ireland temporary authorisation to apply reduced excise rates on commercial gas oil
On 28 July 2026, Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1902 authorised Ireland to apply, until 30 September 2026, lower excise duty rates on commercial gas oil used as propellant by certain road transport operators under Article 19 of Directive 2003/96/EC. This temporary authorisation is in response to geopolitical pressures on energy markets, allowing excise rates as low as 0.25185 EUR/litre. The measure is strictly time-limited and subject to the condition that it will lapse if the EU adopts new minimum tax levels.
Commission extends anti-dumping measures on Russian and Chinese ferro-silicon imports
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1794 of 27 July 2026 imposes a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of ferro-silicon from the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, following an expiry review under Regulation (EU) 2016/1036. Duties of up to 31.2% for China and 22.7% for Russia remain in force due to continued likelihood of dumping and injury to the EU industry. The regulation details the investigation process, cooperation levels, and the market environment affecting the ferro-silicon sector, including the impact of sanctions on Russian imports.
Commission updates Annexes to CBAM default values regulation
The Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1740 on 20 July 2026 to correct and update Annexes I and IV of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2621, providing further legal clarity for calculation of default values used within the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The correction applies retroactively from 1 January 2026, specifies units for default values, and amends country names and product codes for consistency with Regulation (EU) 2023/956 and subsequent amendments.
Commission suspends rebalancing measures against certain US products
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1893, adopted 30 July 2026, suspends commercial rebalancing measures imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1564 on specific products from the United States and reciprocal EU exports. The suspension, effective from 7 August 2026, follows the EU-US Joint Statement of 21 August 2025 and recent tariff adjustments, maintaining the temporary relief as bilateral trade discussions progress.
Commission updates customs classification of certain goods under Combined Nomenclature
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1874 of 23 July 2026 updates the classification of specified goods within the Combined Nomenclature to ensure uniform application throughout the EU under Regulation (EU) No 952/2013. The measure takes effect 20 days after publication, with transition arrangements for prior binding tariff information.
