How the motor industry hijacked regulation of vehicle noise
Noise emissions from motor vehicles are regulated by the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations. The European Community is a signatory, as well as individual EU Member States, meaning that UNECE vehicle regulations are directly applicable in EU and national law.
This briefing explains the long history of failure of the UNECE to deliver effective regulation for quieter vehicles and argues for the regulation of vehicle noise to be moved back to the EU level in Brussels where there is appropriate democratic oversight.
Related Articles
View All
Plug-in hybrids emit six times, on average, what official tests claim - new EU data
The car lobby is demanding that the EU scrap rules that would better reflect PHEV pollution
Oil majors double profits in Europe in latest quarter
As wildfires rage across Europe, T&E calls for a permanent tax on the windfall profits being made off the back of European drivers
How much windfall profit have oil companies made in Europe?
Just eight oil companies have made €7.5 billion in excess profits in Europe in the first half of 2026