‘Dangerous, Heavily Polluting’ U.S. Pickups Increase On European Roads

Pickup trucks from the U.S. are not required to comply with all European Union (EU) safety and ... [+] environmental standards, according to the European Transport Safety Council. European Transport Safety Council

The sales of pickup trucks from the United States that are considered to be unsafe and environmentally unfriendly by some consumer and advocacy groups have been on the rise in Europe. Nearly 5,000 Dodge RAMs made their way onto European roads in 2023, up 20% compared to 2022, bringing the total to at least 20,000 of that popular pickup model.

Those are highlights of news announced earlier this month by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), a Brussels-based independent non-profit organization, in response to concern about a loophole that allows dangerous and heavily polluting U.S.-market pickups to be driven in Europe.

Pickup trucks from the U.S., like the Dodge RAM,, are not required to comply with all European Union (EU) safety and environmental standards, according to the ETSC, as they are imported through a back-door channel called “Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA), which allows vehicles to bypass some basic EU regulations.

Originally, the measure was intended for ‘one-off’ adapted or specialized vehicles, like those for the mobility impaired or for emergency services, the safety council said, noting “the system is now being exploited to import large numbers of US pick-up trucks.” For example, these vehicles are not required to comply with various safety regulations, air pollution road tests, or car and van CO2 standards within the EU.

The research was based on estimates and analysis of new data from Transport & Environment, an advocacy group in Europe for clean transport & energy, and the Copenhagen-based European Environment Agency, which provides the European Union with independent information on the environment.

A coalition of consumer, safety and environmental groups, including the European Cyclists’ Federation, consumers’ federation BEUC, Clean Cities, Eurocities, POLIS, International Federation of Pedestrians, as well as Transport & Environment and the ETSC, said the EU’s “inaction stands in stark contrast to the steps being taken by progressive cities.” Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Koblenz and Tübingen, for example, have decided to vary parking charges by vehicle weight or size.

The coalition wrote to the European Commission, requesting to close the loophole that allows unsafe and heavily polluting US-market pickups to be imported to Europe.

“A gaping loophole in EU and member state law continues to allow US pick-up trucks (and similar vehicles) to be imported without the need to comply with EU type approval law on air pollution, climate emissions or vehicle safety,” the letter stated, noting that “the apparent lack of progress is deeply concerning.”

“For too long, citizens have witnessed the continued application of the lightest touch to the most lethal vehicles. Imported pick-up trucks are certainly the most lethal vehicles when it comes to climate breakdown and fatal collisions, and the application of real-world on-road testing may reveal these vehicles to be the most lethal when it comes to air pollution.”

Soon after the ETSC announced the news, Politico Pro, it noted, reported that a spokesperson for the European Commission said it wants “to strengthen the IVA rules, to bring them to a level of protection comparable with that guaranteed by the (EU) type approval rules.”

For more information and to read the letter, click here and here.