Europe's Car Brands Fail to Meet CO2 Emissions Commitments

Strategic Insights -

A report by Transport and Environment (T&E) reveals that only five of the twenty major car brands sold in Europe have met their commitments to reduce CO2 emissions. Fiat, Citroen, Renault, Ford, and Peugeot are the only ones to have achieved this goal, while Volkswagen lags behind. The report also shows that three-quarters of the 20 major car brands sold in Europe last year have failed to improve fuel efficiency at the rate needed to meet the EU's climate target set in 1998. This target aimed to cut average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the then EU15 from 186 g/km in 1995 to 140 g/km by 2008.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only 5 out of 20 major car brands sold in Europe have met their commitments to reduce CO2 emissions: Fiat, Citroen, Renault, Ford, and Peugeot.
  • Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car brand in terms of sales, is lagging behind in reducing CO2 emissions.
  • Three-quarters of the 20 major car brands sold in Europe last year have failed to improve fuel efficiency at the rate needed to meet the EU's climate target set in 1998.
  • Nissan is the worst performer in Europe, followed by Suzuki, Mazda, Audi, Volvo, BMW, and Volkswagen, all of which cut emissions at less than half the rate needed to meet the target.
  • Toyota, maker of the low-emission Prius hybrid, is failing to improve efficiency across its range at the rate needed.
  • Renault, Europe's second automobile manufacturer in terms of sales, is on track to meet its target despite starting with a higher emissions level than Volkswagen in 1997.
  • The study suggests that manufacturers need to increase efforts across their product range to meet their commitments and not just focus on very efficient models that sell in limited numbers.

Statistics:

  • 20 major car brands sold in Europe have failed to improve fuel efficiency at the rate needed to meet the EU's climate target set in 1998.
  • 15 car brands have not met the EU's climate target of cutting average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the then EU15 from 186 g/km in 1995 to 140 g/km by 2008.
  • Fiat achieved the target set for 2008 in 2005.
  • Average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in Europe: 186 g/km in 1995.
  • Target CO2 emissions from new cars sold in Europe: 140 g/km by 2008.

Sources:

  • "How Clean is Your Car Brand" report by Transport and Environment (T&E), published on 25 October.
  • Transport and Environment (T&E) website: www.transportenvironment.org.