The European Union (EU) wants to ban chrome plating from 2024, citing health reasons as the main driving force behind the initiative. According to Autocar, it’s because of the toxic chemicals released during the material’s creation.
While it may not seem like a big deal, it will have a massive impact on the automotive industry. Chrome plating is widely used to differentiate top-spec models from their lesser counterparts, especially on upper-trim trucks like the Ram 1500 Laramie and GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. Tuning and restomodding companies will also feel the impact of this controversial ban.
Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen, often leading to lung cancer. It is apparently 500 times more toxic than diesel emissions. Currently, there’s no safe way to produce chrome plating, as all the known procedures release poisonous chemicals.
