CO2 emissions from cars and vans continue on downward trend
Brussels, 30 April 2014 – According to the figures published by the European Environment Agency today, in 2013, average passenger car fleet emissions were 127g CO2/km compared to 186g CO2/km in 1995 – a 31.7% decrease over the period. This is the result of the long-term efforts of the automobile industry, which have been sustained both with and without legislation.
“Thanks to huge efforts by European automobile manufacturers and billions of euros worth of investment in R&D, Europe’s passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are the cleanest in the world,” stated Erik Jonnaert, Secretary General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
It is clear that CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles need to continue on their downward trend, and the industry is committed to this. However, because the most cost-efficient actions have already been taken, delivering on that aim requires ever greater technical investments to achieve lesser reductions.
Today, the automobile sector is on the right path to bringing down CO2 emissions to the levels required by the regulations. “It should be noted that the legislation sets targets which become effective from one day to the next. Obviously, manufacturers have to start the process of reaching the targets well in advance. This means that, by the nature of the legislation, a certain degree of ‘over-achievement’ is necessary on route to meeting the targets,” explained Mr Jonnaert.
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
- Contact: Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
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About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total
