Freezing of Adblue torments Finnish motorists – Minister: “Just politics”

Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Wrist (ps) responds to the Adblue letter of the Parliament’s Transport and Communications Committee.

Adblue is a urea solution used to clean the exhaust gases of diesel vehicles. The Adblue solution freezes at -11 degrees, which causes problems in Finland’s winter conditions, according to the ministry. According to the committee, it is used especially in newer diesel cars, heavy vehicles and work machines due to emission requirements.

The committee heard the experts and sent a letter to the minister, highlighting possible solutions and calling for active measures from the ministry to promote them. Chairman Jouni Ovaskan (centre), the committee considers it essential that the Ministry of Transport and Communications further enhances its influence in the EU.

This is the answer of the ministry

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has given a response to the committee’s letter. According to the ministry, the freezing of the solution damages the exhaust gas cleaning systems of diesel engines, i.e. SCR systems, and the current EU regulation does not provide a clear enough way to introduce alternative, cold-resistant substances.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has emphasized the importance of market-based solutions in all its discussions on the matter. The ministry has been in contact with the European Commission about the Adblue problem for the last time since the beginning of 2026 and asked the Commission, among other things, to clarify the procedures by which the new, better cold-resistant substance could be introduced in vehicles in use that have already been type-approved.

According to the ministry, transportation interruptions due to arctic conditions could be reduced by changing the requirements for new vehicles in connection with the preparation for the implementation of the Euro 7 regulation and the Commission’s proposal for simplifying the regulation of the automotive industry.

The ministry emphasizes that the commission should start a direct dialogue with car manufacturers. The goal is to speed up the development of market-based solutions.

The durability of SCR systems is also presented by the Prime Minister Petteri Orpon (kok) 5 March 2026 to the chairman of the commission Ursula von der Leyenille in the petition sent, concerning the simplification of EU regulation. The ministry is currently preparing a new letter to the commission, which complements the letter previously sent by Prime Minister Orpo.

The minister submits a “baking letter”

The ministry continues discussions with the Commission, EU type approval and market surveillance authorities and other actors. The ministry also participates in the preparation of the Euro 7 implementation regulation and the proposal for simplifying vehicle regulations.

“A lot has been done and is being done to solve the Adblue problem. We will not give up. The committee’s ‘frying letter’ was just politics. If the committee had asked experts from the ministry to consult, the matter would have become clear faster,” says Ranne in the message service X.

“The freezing of Adblue systems causes big practical problems in winter for transport, agriculture and forestry, and the use of work machines. We have worked purposefully during this term of government to solve this problem. The influence in the direction of the commission has been strong both for us and for other Finnish operators. We will continue this work until systems are introduced in Finland that also work in our winter conditions,” says Ranne in the press release.