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EU: Car industry faces 25% CO2 cut |
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A new EU strategy has confirmed the 120 g/km CO2 emissions target for new cars to be achieved by 2012. More efficient mobile air conditioning will be part of the legislative package.
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2007-02-07
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The new strategy will require carmakers to cut down CO2 emissions by 25% during the next five years compared to the average 161 g/km level European manufacturers achieved in 2005. The legislative framework for new cars sold in the EU-27 will be proposed by the European Commission (EC) by the end of this year or at the latest by mid 2008. Mobile Air Conditioning will feature among the reduction measures due to its impact on fuel consumption.
More concrete, the revised EU strategy for passenger cars sets out the following:
- Improvements in vehicle technology would have to reduce average emissions to 130g/km.
- Minimum efficiency requirements for car components with the highest impact on fuel consumption, namely air conditioning systems and tyres, would contribute an emissions cut of up to 10g/km.
- Support for research efforts will aim at a further reduction of 95g CO2/km by 2020.
- The EC will promote the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles, notably through improved labelling and by encouraging Member States to base car taxes on cars' CO2 emissions.
- An EU code of good practice on car marketing seeks to promote more sustainable consumption patterns. The EC invites car manufacturers to sign up to this by mid-2007.
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Battlefield CO2 emissions
The new strategy comes as a compromise after weeks of debate within the European Commission and the automotive industry. While Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas had favoured binding legislation to cut CO2 emissions down to 120 g/km, Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen supported an integrated approach that would take into account driving behaviour and fuel standards in addition to new technologies.
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Moreover, the European Commission had faced strong resistance from the German auto industry which claimed that stringent legislation would threaten the competitiveness of luxury cars and would lead to job emigration. At the moment, a rift is opening between European carmakers over the Commission proposal. While manufacturers of small, fuel-efficient cars support one single limit for all producers, luxury-dominated car brands fear to lose competitiveness.
Next steps
The EC will await the responses of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to implement the strategy. Before proposing the legislative framework it will consult widely with stakeholders on its design and undertake a thorough impact assessment.
Background
In 1999, European carmakers agreed to a voluntary goal of 140 g/km CO2 emissions by 2008. After recent studies had shown that up to three third of carmakers operating in Europe would miss this target, the European Commission announced to set mandatory limits.
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More information:
 Commission Proposal to reduce CO2 emissions from cars, 7 Feb, 2007 (21 KB)
› Press Release European Commission, 7 February, 2007
› See our related news from 8 November, 2006
› Read more about the industry's voluntary commitment in our Policies Section
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