The coffee regulations (Clean Air For Europe, “Clean Air for Europe”) is a set of regulations established by the European Union (EU) so that the transport sector reduces its emissions of polluting gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). Its ultimate goal is to improve air quality and combat climate change. How do you do it? Marking strict limits to the emissions of new cars sold in the European market.
The CAFE regulations are specifically applied to car manufacturers, who must ensure that the average CO2 emissions of vehicles that sell do not exceed an established limit. If a manufacturer does not comply with these limits, you must pay significant fines, calculated depending on the grams of CO2 exceeded by each vehicle sold.
Evolution of CAFE regulations
Coffee regulations have hardening since its introduction, reflecting EU’s commitment to emission reduction and transition to more sustainable mobility. Next, its evolution is detailed:
1. First steps (2009-2014)
In 2009the EU established the first binding objectives for CO₂ emissions of new vehicles. The initial limit was set in 130 g/km of CO2 in 2015. It applied to the average of the manufacturers fleets. In addition, measures were added to promote more efficient technologies.
2. More ambitious objectives (2015-2020)
In 2014, the EU introduced strict objectives for 2020. As we tell you in your day. establishing a limit of 95 g/km For cars and 147 g/km in light commercial vehicles. To achieve these objectives, manufacturers began to spend massively in electrification and energy efficiency technologies.
3. The great jump: (2021-2035)
In 2021 the Coffee regulations aligned with the Paris Agreement and the EU climatic neutrality objectives by 2050. Limits were established that would become more restrictive progressively:
- 2021: limit of 95 g/km For cars and 147 g/km For commercials. Of course, now measured more strictly under the WLTP cycle (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure).
- 2025: The limit is reduced to 93.6 g/km For cars. The figure varies slightly depending on the size of the vehicles sold.
- 2030: A 37.5% reduction is sought compared to 2021 levels, which implies a limit of approximately 59 g/km For cars.
- 2035: The EU plans to prohibit the sale of internal combustion vehicles. All new cars must be zero emissions (electric or hydrogen), after being approved in 2023.
Mechanisms of CAFE regulations
Each manufacturer must ensure that the average CO2 emissions of all vehicles it sells does not exceed the established limit. If you do not meet the limits, you must pay € 95 for each gram of CO2 exceeded by each vehicle sold. This can result in millionaire fines.
The European Union established two systems to “help” manufacturers:
- Supercréditos: Until 2023, manufacturers could benefit from supercréditos for low emissions vehicles (less than 50 g/km), counting them more than once for the calculation of the average.
- Emission pools: Manufacturers can join in “pools” to share their emissions and collectively comply with the objectives.
What manufacturers are closer to complying with the regulations?
Brands with a high dependence on combustion engines face significant challenges to meet the objectives. All have more and more with electric cars (EV) and plug
That leads to notable divergences among the main automotive groups (ordered by enrollments in 2024):
| Manufacturer | Enrollments 2024 |
Media emissions 2024 (g/km) |
CO2 Objective 2025 (g/km) |
Difference (g/km) |
| Volkswagen | 2,859,392 | 118.4 | 93.0 | +25.4 |
| Stellantis | 1,775,705 | 112.2 | 96.0 | +16.2 |
| Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi | 1,435,453 | 112.1 | 96.2 | +15.9 |
| Toyota | 872.411 | 105.6 | 95.7 | +9.9 |
| Hyundai-Kia | 845,569 | 108.1 | 94.8 | +13.3 |
| BMW | 726.056 | 100.0 | 89.2 | +10.8 |
| Mercedes-Benz | 613,787 | 106.9 | 86.7 | +20.2 |
| Ford | 350,389 | 121.0 | 91.8 | +29.2 |
| Volvo-Polestar-Geely | 325,475 | 51.9 | 87.0 | -35.1 |
| Tesla | 268,382 | 0.0 | 88.0 | -88.0 |
| Mazda | 139,556 | 123.7 | 94.1 | +29.6 |
| JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) | 61.574 | 122.2 | 81.1 | +41.1 |
| Byd | 41.152 | 4.1 | 87.8 | -83.7 |
As can be seen in the upper painting, Jaguar Land Rover is the one that should reduce emissions with respect to 2024, followed by Mazda, Ford, Volkswagen and Mercedes. Of course, there are already some confirmed pools and others in process to avoid something that would be painful for both brands and buyers: price increases of combustion models to discourage their sales.
According to Reuters, an EU document shows that two pools are being formed:
- Stellantis, Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Subaru seeks that the limits of CO2 of their fleets are compensated with those of Tesla.
- Mercedes-Benz tries to form a pool with smart, volvo and polestar
In the past, Jaguar Land Rover formed Pool with Tesla and Honda. And Volkswagen managed to reduce the amount of fines when associated with SAIC (MG). And we will have to be attentive to possible associations with Chinese brands that mainly sell electricity. There is time: Automobile manufacturers must notify the European Commission the group agreements before December 31 of each year.
Coffee regulations against other markets
Manufacturers criticize much that, in a global market, they cannot develop specific products to comply with a more rigorous regulation than those of other latitudes. The 93.6 g/km of CO2 is a much lower limit than those imposed by other large world markets:
- China: The Asian giant has implemented the new energy loan system (NEV), which requires that manufacturers reach a quota of electric vehicles of 18% by 2025. The emission limits have an objective of 117 g/km of CO2 by 2025.
- Japan: The Japanese country has a limit of 122 g/km of CO2 In 2025. However, its strategy is different, focused on promoting hybrids or hydrogen fuel battery vehicles, after losing technological comba in pure electric.
- USA: They are less strict than in Europe, with a limit of 127 g/km of CO2 By 2025. The Biden administration had announced plans to harden it, but the change of president in the US has stopped those attempts.
