KAIDA calls for Life Cycle Assessment in vehicle environmental regulations

At the 2026 KAIDA Automotive Policy Seminar in Seoul, experts and industry leaders advocated for a shift in environmental regulations from measuring tailpipe emissions to a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework. This approach would evaluate a vehicle's total carbon footprint from raw material extraction through production to disposal.

Professor Min Kyung-deok of Seoul National University noted that even electric vehicles emit significant greenhouse gases when considering their entire lifecycle. He cited data showing that while an internal combustion engine Kona emits 39.9 tons of CO2, an electric Kona emits 33.2 tons over its lifespan. He suggested that subsidies should eventually be based on LCA data, similar to models used in France and the United Kingdom.

The seminar also addressed autonomous driving policies. Experts emphasized the need for legal frameworks, safety requirements, and data governance to support the phased expansion of autonomous vehicle testing. Pierre Millette, CTO of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), highlighted the importance of Korea-EU cooperation regarding software updates, cybersecurity, and the mutual recognition of UN regulations to facilitate the introduction of new technologies.