Germany’s leading automotive industry associations are calling for a simpler and more consistent system for passenger car energy-consumption labels across Europe.

The Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, the German Association of the Automotive Industry and the Central Association of the German

Automotive Trade argue that future rules should focus on two priorities: giving buyers genuinely useful information and ensuring that manufacturers and retailers can apply the requirements without excessive complexity.

<h3>Support for One EU-Wide System</h3>

The three organisations support the idea of harmonising passenger car energy labels across the European Union as part of the wider automotive policy package.

A single set of directly applicable rules could make it easier for consumers to compare vehicles sold in different countries while reducing differences between national systems.

The associations say, however, that any new framework must be practical, legally clear and easy for customers to understand. Adding more information does not automatically improve transparency if the final label becomes too complicated to read.

<h3>Used Cars Should Be Excluded</h3>

One of the strongest recommendations concerns second-hand vehicles. The associations argue that the proposed energy-consumption labelling system should apply to new cars rather than the existing vehicle fleet.

For many older vehicles, sufficiently reliable and comparable information on individual consumption and emissions is not readily available. Introducing mandatory labels could therefore result either in figures that do not accurately represent the individual vehicle or in additional testing requirements.

Such testing would increase costs for dealers and sellers while potentially providing limited additional value to buyers.

<h3>Avoid Creating Another Database</h3>

The organisations also oppose establishing new EU databases that duplicate information already available through existing approval systems.

They propose using data connected with Certificates of Conformity as the main European source for vehicle energy-consumption information.

Approval authorities in EU member states already exchange important technical vehicle data through national registers and European systems.

According to the industry groups, creating another database with largely identical information would mean extra IT systems, additional interfaces and more administrative work. It could also create uncertainty over responsibility if the same vehicle data differed between separate systems.

<h3>Digital Labels for Digital Car Sales</h3>

Another key demand is a stronger focus on digital presentation.

A growing proportion of vehicle advertising and sales now happens online, where information appears on manufacturer websites, dealership platforms, marketplaces and other digital services.

The associations believe the labelling system should reflect this shift rather than relying primarily on formats designed for printed advertising.

Their preferred approach is a simple digital label showing the most important information at a glance, with more detailed technical data available through additional online content.

This could make it easier to adapt information to different screens and advertising formats without overwhelming potential buyers.

<h3>Keeping Information Useful</h3>

The planned revision of European passenger car energy labelling could improve transparency and make cross-border vehicle comparisons easier.

But the German automotive associations argue that the benefits will depend heavily on how the rules are designed.

<b>Their message is straightforward: consumers need clear and comparable energy information, but the system should rely on existing data, focus on new vehicles and use digital formats instead of creating another layer of complicated regulation.</b>