New cars in Europe making a difference with lower CO2 emissions

According to the world’s leading provider of automotive intelligence, JATO Dynamics,average European new car CO₂ emissions are falling at a faster rate than ever before and are on course to meet 2015 EU targets

Volume-weighted, average European new car CO₂ emissions have fallen by almost 20g/km since 2003 – now 145.9 g/km

2009 experienced greatest single-year reduction in CO₂emissions

New technologies, taxation, recession, high fuel prices and scrappage all driving CO₂ downward

Current rate of reduction puts 2015 EU targets within reach, says JATO

Last year saw the greatest single-year decline in average CO₂, as the urge to put cleaner cars on the road was accelerated by the rich mix of customer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles, the introduction of CO₂ based taxes in some markets and national scrappage schemes across Europe favouring smaller, cleaner cars.

The volume-weighted European new car average is now 145.9 g/km, almost 20 g/km less than 2003, when JATO began collating European CO₂ emissions data. Furthermore, half of all new cars sold in the 21 countries analysed had official CO₂ emissions of 140g/km or less, compared to only 23% in 2003.

Said David Di Girolamo, Head of JATO Consult: “The pace of improvement is remarkable and shows just how rapidly the industry has reacted to environmental demands. In 2003, only 24% of the market achieved an average of 130g/km. This was 40% by 2007, 51% in 2008 and 69% last year, already ahead of the 2012 EU target*. This achievement is even greater when set in the context of new cars becoming larger, safer and better equipped, as consumer demands reach ever higher.”



According to JATO, the progress in CO₂ emissions is due to three key factors:

#1. Vehicle developments

#2. Taxation

#3. Scrappage schemes

You can see the full data compiled in the JATO Consult CO2 Report 2009 at www.jato.com