Dacia urges EU to pause new small-car regulations amid rising prices and driver complaints

Dacia’s leadership criticized the impact of recent European Union regulations on the cost structure of its entry-level vehicles. General manager Katrin Adt explained that the proliferation of safety, comfort and electronic assistance systems has pushed the price of the Sandero far above its original level, despite the added benefits. She cited the popularity of a “magic button” that disables the audible warnings of ADAS functions, suggesting that drivers find some of these alerts excessive.

The company argues that continued regulatory pressure threatens the affordability of small cars and has formally requested the European Commission, together with other automakers, to suspend further rules for the segment. Renault’s chief executive Fabrice Cambolive echoed the call, describing the regulatory environment as a “legislative tsunami.” Dacia’s sales have slipped by eight percent in the first seven months of the year, while competition from Chinese brands intensifies.