Finance
US Carmakers Accuse EU of Blocking Supersized Pick-Up Trucks From Roads, Ft Reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 8, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 8, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
U.S. automakers, including Ford, GM, and Stellantis, accuse the EU of effectively blocking full‑size pickups—like the F‑150, Silverado, and Ram 1500—by tightening safety and environmental standards. U.S. Ambassador Andrew Puzder warns that proposed EU rule changes threaten to breach the spirit of th
US Carmakers Claim EU Blocks Largest Pick-Up Trucks Amid Trade Dispute
US-EU Trade Dispute Over Pick-Up Trucks
Allegations from US Carmakers
April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. carmakers have accused Brussels of keeping their largest pick-up trucks, including the Ford F-150, the Chevy Silverado and the Ram 1500, off European roads, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
EU Safety Rules and Trade Deal Concerns
Comments from US Ambassador
In a separate interview with FT, Andrew Puzder, the U.S. ambassador to the bloc, said that EU plans to change safety rules that could breach the spirit of the trade deal if they prevented some American vehicles from being sold in Europe.
Verification Status
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
Reporting Information
(Reporting by Disha Mishra in Bengaluru)
Key Takeaways
- •U.S. carmakers allege EU safety rules, especially around the IVA loophole, restrict import of large pickups such as Ford F‑150, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500.
- •European regulators are moving to close the ‘Individual Vehicle Approval’ loophole, citing road‑safety and environmental risks from U.S. pickups that bypass type‑approval standards (etsc.eu).
- •Andrew Puzder argues EU rule changes could undermine the EU‑U.S. trade agreement, potentially impacting mutual market access (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about US carmakers accuse EU of blocking supersized pick-up trucks from roads, FT reports
1Which US pick-up trucks are being blocked by the EU?
The Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500 are among the US pick-up trucks accused of being blocked from European roads.
2Why are US carmakers accusing the EU of blocking their pick-up trucks?
US carmakers claim that Brussels is preventing their largest pick-up trucks from being sold in Europe due to proposed changes in EU safety rules.
3What concerns did the US ambassador raise about EU plans?
The US ambassador warned that EU plans to change safety rules could breach the trade deal if these changes prevent some American vehicles from being sold in Europe.
4Has Reuters verified the Financial Times report?
Reuters was unable to immediately verify the Financial Times report regarding the carmakers' accusations.
