Annually, 3 million vehicles disappear from registration systems in the EU.

Omissions

• The European Commission's central estimate is 'around 3.5 million' vehicles per year, not 3 million. The claim cites the lower bound of the Commission's own 3–4 million range.
• The claim does not specify that these are end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) that are deregistered but whose final destination — scrapping, illegal export, or illegal dismantling — remains unknown.
• The European Commission press release (IP/25/3043) was published in 2025 and the ELV Regulation page was available before the session date, so the data was accessible to the MEP.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Environment (End-of-life vehicles Regulation page)Around 3.5 million vehicles disappear without a trace from EU roads each year — and are exported, or disposed of illegally.
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Press CornerEach year in the EU, 3-4 million vehicles 'disappear', meaning they are deregistered but their final destination — like being scrapped at an authorised facility, illegally dismantled, or exported — is unknown.
• SecondaryPolitico EuropeBetween 3 million and 4 million end-of-life cars disappear without a trace from the EU each year.