Average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the EU dropped by 5% last year, the biggest annual fall ever recorded, a report just published by the European Commission shows.
The Commission report summarising data on emissions from new passenger cars for the monitoring year 2009 shows a 5.1% drop in average C02 emissions against the previous year – the largest annual fall since the monitoring scheme began in 2000.
Moreover a slight decrease in the power, engine capacity and weight of cars, seen for the first time in 2008, accelerated last year. This was due to a combination of the economic crisis, the scrappage schemes introduced in some Member States and increased demand for and development of more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The EU C02 emissions target of 130g CO2/km that is to be met in 2012 by the average 65% lowest emitting cars was reached last year. Considering the average fuel efficiency improvements achieved over the past seven years, several large volume manufacturers are expected to reach the 2015 target a few years in advance if this trend continues.
The Commission has also adopted detailed rules and guidance to harmonise the EU scheme for monitoring CO2 emissions from cars and ensure its correct functioning. This forms part of the implementation of the Regulation on C02 from cars. The rules include instructions to Member States, and provide car industry with a time table for the delivery of data.