Brake Particle Emissions: What Car and Van Manufacturers Must Do in 2026

Key data

Vehicle and brake component manufacturers operating in the European Union face a new technical obligation. The Implementation Regulation (EU) 2026/1762, originally published on 22 July 2026 and now corrected by corrigendum of 24 September 2026, establishes the technical procedures, test methods and administrative requirements for measuring particle emissions generated by brakes on cars (category M1) and light vans (category N1).

This regulation develops the Regulation (EU) 2024/1257 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which established the regulatory framework for non-exhaust emissions. The corrigendum now published corrects material errors in the original text and is the text that should be taken as the valid reference for technical and administrative adaptation.

What does this regulation establish?

Implementation Regulation (EU) 2026/1762 details four major blocks of obligations for manufacturers:

The regulatory focus is on non-exhaust particle emissions, a category that until now had received less regulatory attention than tailpipe emissions, but which has a significant impact on urban air quality. Disc brakes generate metallic and other material particles that are dispersed directly into the environment.

The corrigendum published on 24 September 2026 corrects material errors in the original text from July 2026. This means that the corrected text is the one with legal validity and the one that should be used as the basis for technical compliance plans.

Economic and operational impact

Compliance with this regulation involves two types of differentiated investment that technical directors and CFOs must consider in their business plans:

• Investment in test laboratories: Manufacturers must have facilities capable of executing the standardized test methods established by the regulation. This may involve adapting existing laboratories or accessing approved external laboratories.
• Possible redesign of brake systems: If current models do not meet the particle emission limits established, brake system redesign will be necessary. This affects both complete vehicle manufacturers and brake component suppliers (pads, discs, calipers).
• Update of homologation processes: Type homologation files must incorporate new technical documentation and brake particle test results.
• Review of technical compliance plans: All models in categories M1 and N1 in production or development must be evaluated against the new standards.

The regulation does not specify penalty amounts or specific adaptation timelines in the available information, but the economic impact will depend directly on whether current models comply with the established emission limits.

Who does it affect?

• Car manufacturers (category M1) that homologate or market vehicles in the European Union
• Light van manufacturers (category N1) with activity in the European market
• Brake system manufacturers (pads, discs, complete systems) that supply OEMs in the sector
• Test and homologation laboratories that must update their test protocols
• Homologation and regulatory compliance departments of automotive groups with presence in Europe
• Vehicle importers of categories M1 and N1 that must verify that imported models comply with the new standards

Practical example

A car manufacturer (category M1) with several models in active production must review its technical compliance plan model by model. For each one, the process involves:

1. Execute brake particle tests according to the methods established in Regulation (EU) 2026/1762 (in its corrected version of 24/09/2026).
2. Compare the results with the emission limits set in the regulation.
3. If a model does not meet the limits, initiate the brake system redesign process — which may involve changing the composition of brake pads, disc material or system geometry.
4. Update the type homologation file with new technical documentation and submit it to the competent homologation authority.

A brake component manufacturer that supplies pads to several European OEMs must, for its part, certify that its products allow the vehicles in which they are installed to comply with particle emission limits, which may require the development of new friction material formulations.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and review the corrected text: The corrigendum of 24/09/2026 is the valid text. It replaces the original from July 2026 in the corrected aspects. Any compliance plan must be based on this version.
2. Audit M1 and N1 models in production and development: Identify which models may be at risk of non-compliance with brake particle emission limits before initiating formal testing.
3. Evaluate available testing capacity: Determine whether in-house laboratories or contracted external laboratories are prepared to execute the test methods established in the regulation.
4. Update homologation plans: Incorporate new administrative and documentation requirements into type homologation files of affected models.
5. Coordinate with brake system suppliers: If brake redesign is necessary, initiate the process with component suppliers as soon as possible, as friction material development cycles can be lengthy.
6. Consult a European homologation specialist: Given the technical complexity and implications for type homologation files, it is recommended to involve experts in EU vehicle homologation regulations.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202690795