Published : 30 Oct 2013
- All the main carmakers have met their
2012 targets for vehicles' average carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to the
European Environment Agency (EEA). However,
most will need to sell increasingly efficient
vehicles to meet targets in 2015 and beyond.
The average car sold
in the EU is now over 20 % more efficient
than a decade ago, which is clearly good
news. Carmakers' rate of progress suggests
that future objectives are certainly attainable.
Hans Bruyninckx, EEA
Executive Director
Car registration data
has been analysed by the EEA in the report
'CO2 emissions performance of car manufacturers
in 2012'. Based on emission levels recorded
in vehicle tests, the report shows that
in 2012 all major car manufacturers have
met their targets for their fleet. Some
were already in line with more stringent
2015 targets.
Carbon emissions of
the average car sold in the EU fell 2.6
% between 2011 and 2012, cutting the EU
average to 132.2 grams of CO2 per kilometre
(g CO2/km). This is close to the 130 g target
for the average new car sold in 2015.
Each manufacturer has
a different target, based on the average
mass of their fleet, which is gradually
phased in, meaning that in 2012 only 65
% of each manufacturer's fleet needed to
meet the target, increasing to 100 % of
cars in 2015. By 2020, current legislation
states that the average car sold in the
EU must not emit more than 95 g CO2/km.
"The average car
sold in the EU is now over 20 % more efficient
than a decade ago, which is clearly good
news," EEA Executive Director Hans
Bruyninckx said. "Carmakers' rate of
progress suggests that future objectives
are certainly attainable. At the same time,
however, the EEA looks towards a future
transition of the mobility system beyond
making efficiency gains in internal combustion
engine technology."
Chart: Distance to 2012
target by individual manufacturers
Distance to 2012 target
by individual manufacturers (only manufacturers
registering >100 000 vehicles in Europe)
Key findings
Average emissions of new cars sold in Europe
in 2012 were 132.2 g CO2/km, which is 2.6
% lower than the previous year.
The report defines 'large manufacturers'
as the 20 companies selling more than 100
000 cars in 2012. Cars sold by these companies
made up 94.5% of the total fleet, and emitted
130.4 g CO2/km on average, which is 1.8
g lower than the European fleet average.
Of the large manufacturers,
Fiat had the lowest average emissions (117
g CO2/km). Renault, Peugeot, Toyota and
Citroen also had emissions well below the
average. At the other end of the scale,
Daimler cars emitted 143 g CO2/km on average,
with similar emissions levels from cars
made by Volvo, Mazda and GM Korea. Compared
to 2011, Daimler and Volvo decreased their
emission by more than 9 g CO2/km.
More than 10 % of the vehicles sold by Toyota
and Renault emitted less than 95 g CO2/km.
Manufacturers may meet
their targets either individually or as
part of a pool of carmakers. Of the manufacturers
that missed their individual targets, some
were able to meet targets through pooling.
When derogations and pools are considered,
74 manufacturers out of 85 met 2012 targets.
Nine of the larger manufacturers
were already compliant with 2015 targets
in 2012.
Although so-called 'super credits' give
carmakers an advantage for selling electric
vehicles or cars with very low emissions,
these credits did not influence whether
large manufacturers met their targets, the
report shows. These credits will be phased
out between 2012 and 2016.
Despite emissions reductions
between 2011 and 2012, the average weight
of cars increased to 1 402 kg, the heaviest
in the last three years.
There were seven manufacturers selling only
electric vehicles in the EU in 2012, according
to the report. Larger manufacturers are
also involved – in total 20 manufacturers
sold electric models in the EU in 2012.
Earlier this year, the
EEA analysed preliminary car registration
data for 2012, showing car buying habits
across the EU. Danish and Portuguese people
buy the most efficient cars, the data showed.
