EURO 7 — Brake Emissions, Durability & Future-Ready Engineering

The EURO 7 regulation introduces, for the first time, specific rules on emissions generated by brake wear, marking a new phase in braking systems engineering.

It is not only about reducing particulate matter, but about ensuring more stable materials, consistent performance over time, and testing methodologies capable of reproducing real on-road conditions.
In this context, a supplier must demonstrate real technical capability, not simply compliance with requirements.

Zendra builds on a solid foundation: a comprehensive engineering approach, advanced testing infrastructure, and certified processes that support the entire braking system development cycle. Over the past 30 years, particulate emissions from vehicle traffic have fallen sharply thanks to increasingly strict environmental regulations andadvanced mitigation technologies on internal combustion engines, including high‑efficiency catalytic converters and particulate filters. As a result,combustion‑related emissions have been significantly reduced.

However, during the same period, brake‑related emissions have increased, driven by higher overall vehicle mileage and the lack of specificcountermeasures.

This trend has prompted the European Union to introduce the new EURO 7 Regulation, which—for the first time—sets specific limits not only forexhaust emissions but also for non‑exhaust emissions, including brake particle emissions. EURO 7 expands earlier standards by regulating brakeand tire wear particles and introducing dedicated testing procedures.

With EURO 7 entering into force (starting in 2026 for new vehicle types), braking systems become both safety‑critical and environmentally regulatedcomponents: manufacturers must demonstrate significantly reduced brake particulate emissions to comply.

In this scenario, reducing Non‑Exhaust Emissions is no longer an option: Zendra is able to make this a reality with its drum brake, which representsone of the most technically effective solutions for emission reduction. Its closed architecture allows a significantly higher proportion of particlesgenerated during braking to be retained, limiting their dispersion into the environment and facilitating compliance with the new limits set by theEURO 7 regulation.

EURO 7

From wear emissions to real-world validation

The EURO 7 regulation redefines the requirements for braking systems by introducing new parameters for emissions, thermal stability, durability, and comfort.

Why EURO 7 changes everything

EURO 7 expands the scope of previous regulations and introduces new elements, such as:​

  • brake particulate emissions​
  • thermal stability of materials​
  • consistent performance over extended cycles​
  • increased focus on NVH and comfort​
  • validation under real-world conditions, not only laboratory testing​

This shift requires more careful design, more advanced materials, and a more comprehensive validation approach.

Brake emissions: the core of the regulation

Dust generated during braking becomes a measurable and regulated parameter.​
This drives the need for:​

  • cleaner material formulations​
  • optimized braking surfaces​
  • improved temperature control​
  • reduction of particles released during braking​
  • robust geometries and mechanical interactions​

As a result, materials, design, and quality processes become critical technical levers.

How braking system design evolves

A EURO 7-compliant braking system must be:​

  • thermally stable​
  • resistant to severe and repeated cycles​
  • consistent in performance over time​
  • optimized for NVH to ensure comfort​
  • designed to reduce wear-related emissions​
  • validated through accelerated testing and real-world scenarios​

Within Zendra’s Validation department, all these conditions are simulated, tested, and documented.

The key role of testing and validation

With 1,800 m² dedicated space and over 40 test benches, Zendra carries out more than 900 tests per year to validate the behavior, durability, and robustness of braking systems.​

Testing activities include:​

  • Durability testing to simulate the full lifecycle of the brake system​
  • Dynamometer performance testing for repeated braking events and high-temperature conditions​
  • NVH testing to analyze noise and vibration behavior​
  • Environmental and vibration testing on dedicated shaker systems​
  • Real use-case testing to replicate everyday driving in realistic scenarios​
  • System integration (ECU) with data acquisition via CAN/FlexRay​

These tests enable the identification of critical issues, the improvement of system robustness, and the development of braking systems designed for long-term consistency.

How an advanced supplier adapts

Adapting to EURO 7 means combining:​

  • materials engineering​
  • thermal analysis and severe environmental cycles​
  • NVH and durability validation​
  • advanced simulations and real-world scenarios​
  • electronic integration of the braking system​
  • processes certified to international standards

Including: IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, TISAX, ECE R90 e CCC.

What Zendra offers OEMs in the transition to EURO 7

To address the regulation, Zendra deploys a set of concrete technical capabilities, already embedded within its internal processes.​ Specifically:

  • End-to-end development, from design through validation
  • Real-world testing, to anticipate on-road behavior and reduce risk
  • NVH and performance analysis, essential for perceived quality and system stability
  • Durability testing to verify long-term performance consistency​
  • Electronic integration (ECU) to analyze control strategies and dynamic response
  • Structured, certified processes, ensuring complete and traceable documentation

This combination of expertise enables the development of braking systems designed for EURO 7 readiness and engineered to deliver consistent performance, day after day.​