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Green drive at Geneva Motor Show |
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The greening of vehicles is at the core of automakers’ concerns as the predominance of efficient models at the Geneva expo has shown. Before its official opening, German manufacturers urged EU legislators to support “eco-innovations”, including CO2 air conditioning.
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2008-03-07
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Automakers are at the beginning of a changeover driven by environmental concerns that will determine their future success or failure. This seems to be a consensus now among all major car manufacturers exhibiting at the first major auto show of the year, held in Geneva from 6-16 March. A majority of the 250 exhibitors are currently presenting environmentally-friendly models and technologies, including hybrids, small-sized models, or electric vehicles. Threatened by high raw material costs, soaring fuel prices, and increasing pressure from consumers to reduce their vehicles’ carbon footprint, manufacturers are insisting on “efficiency” and “economy” as the dominating keywords at this year’s auto show.
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Moreover, carmakers have already started an innovation race to be best prepared for gas-guzzler taxes, clean air regulation or CO2 emission limits looming in all parts of the world. Speaking on behalf of global carmakers, the International Automotive Manufacturers Association (OICA) called on EU legislators to revise their proposed CO2 emission limits for passenger cars. In a press conference on 6 March, OICA called for an integrated approach that would shift some responsibilities for emission reductions from manufacturers to drivers and better road infrastructure.
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VDA: EU policy makers should give incentives for “eco-innovations”
A different message was conveyed by Matthias Wissmann, President of the German automobile association VDA, who also urged EU officials to reconsider their CO2 emissions proposal issued in December 2007. Instead of relying merely on motor and powertrain technologies to achieve the 120 g/km CO2 emissions target by 2012, legislation should account for other relevant “eco-innovations” achieving significant emissions reductions. Stating that the proposal “lacks an important environmental part”, Wissmann more specifically highlighted CO2-based Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) as a key innovation that needs to be taken into account in a more flexible legislative approach. German carmakers had decided last September to use the climate-friendly refrigerant in future passenger cars.
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More information:
› Geneva Motor Show 2008 - Official website
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