Policy Lunch “New Vehicle Category M1E: Opportunities for Safety, Climate
Protection, and Economic Growth in Europe”
Urban mobility in Europe is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The question of how
to make individual mobility climate-friendly, safe, and affordable is one of the key political
challenges of our time—and it is directly linked to European vehicle type-approval
legislation.
The European Union institutions are currently discussing a proposed regulation under the
Automotive Omnibus Package that would introduce a new M1E vehicle subclass for
affordable small electric vehicles. The proposal aims to revive the declining market for small
and compact vehicles manufactured in Europe. However, from the perspective of road
safety and environmental protection, the current draft contains proposals that are neither
sustainable nor effective.
How can a new M0/N0 vehicle category concretely support the EU’s strategies on climate
protection, road safety, and economic competitiveness?
Which vehicle safety requirements are appropriate for urban use—and where do current
discussions (e.g. the M1E subcategory) conflict with EU objectives?
What regulatory steps at the EU level are necessary to unlock this market segment?
How will European manufacturers, municipalities, and citizens benefit from this new
vehicle category?
Programme
Welcome:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lutz Eckstein, President of VDI e.V.
Jann Fehlauer, Managing Director of DEKRA Automobil Gmbh
Key presentations
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rodolfo Schöneburg, Chair of the VDI Advisory Board on Automotive
Engineering
Prof. Jan Friedhoff, Spokesperson of the VDI Expert Committee on Small Vehicles
Followed by an open discussion over a shared lunch.
Registration & Contact
We look forward to your participation and kindly ask you to confirm or decline your
attendance by 28 August 2026:
For any questions, please contact:
Christian Krause, VDI Office Berlin, Phone: +49 30 275957-13, Email: krause_c@vdi.de,
website: www.vdi.de/politik
Oliver Deiters, DEKRA Office Brussels, Phone: +49 170 9217072, E-mail:
eu.office@dekra.com, website: https://www.dekra.com/en/home
PHOTOS
Request all high resolution photos at VDI or DEKRA