Exemption for N2 electric vehicles from speed-limiter requirements

Background

In December 2025, the European Commission presented a proposal to amend Directive 92/6/EEC to exempt certain electric N2 vehicles (3.5 to 4.25 tonnes) from mandatory 90 km/h speed-limiter requirements. This proposal is part of the broader Automotive Package, which aims at supporting the sector’s transition to clean mobility.

This exemption aims to remove regulatory barriers that hinder the adoption of electric light commercial vehicles. Current rules included in the Directive 92/6/EEC require N2 vehicles to be equipped with speed-limitation devices, a rule originally designed for heavy-duty vehicles to ensure road safety and environmental protection. 

However, electric vans often fall into the N2 category solely because of their battery weight, despite having similar payload and use cases as lighter combustion-engine vans. 

The obligation to install speed limiters increases costs for SMEs and slows the uptake of electric vans, undermining CO₂ reduction targets. The objective of this exemption is to align electric vans with their fossil fuel equivalents, making them more attractive and supporting the transition to cleaner transport.

Key points

The EESC:

• underlines that regulatory simplification should not come at the expense of established road safety standards or the protection of drivers and vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians; 
• stresses that the proposed initiative must remain fully consistent with the objectives of the EU common transport policy, and fit in with the road safety framework;
• emphasises the importance of zero-emission commercial vehicles for achieving EU climate objectives, especially in urban distribution and service delivery;
• calls on the Commission to keep the exemption, if accepted, conditional for the time being. The conditionality should be linked to an evaluation after a certain period of time.

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/870

Opinion type: Mandatory

Referral: COM(2025) 999 final 2025/0424 COD

Rapporteur: Miroslav Hajnos (Group II - Slovakia)

Date of adoption by section: 9 March 2026

Result of the vote: 65 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 18-19 March 2026

Result of the vote: 205 in favour, 1 against, 3 abstentions

Contact

Marco Pezzani

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 9793 | Mob: +32 470 881 903

E-mail: marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu 

Aleksandra Sarman Grilc

Administrator

Tel.: +32 546 8333

E-mail: aleksandra.sarmangrilc@eesc.europa.eu