The European Commission has signalled it is sticking to an ambitious programme to cut vehicle CO2 emissions, blocking overtures by the motor industry to reduce long-term objectives.
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In a document published February 11, the commission reaffirmed its objective to reduce per-car CO2 emissions to an average of “120 grams per kilometre by 2005, and by 2010 at the latest,” Automotive News Europe said.
Carmakers are unlikely to meet the 120g/km target by 2005, but “it remains realistic to meet the objective by 2010 if the necessary measures are taken and all efforts are made,” the commission said in a report to the EU council of ministers and parliament.
Beneath the bland language, carmakers and the EU are locked in a tug-of-war over how much and how quickly carbon-dioxide emissions will be reduced. It is a struggle fought with diplomatic politeness, but the stakes are high.
European carmakers are positioning themselves to ask to slow the long-term pace of CO2 reductions. EU regulators are responding that they want to speed CO2 cuts.
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By GlobalDataSo far, the CO2 reduction goals are voluntary. In separate agreements, ACEA, the European carmakers association, and Japanese and Korean carmakers pledged to cut emissions to 140g/km by 2008 (2009 for the Asian brands) and 120g/km by 2012 (2013 for Asians). But the EU can legislate stiffer rules if it is dissatisfied.
Last October, Renault chairman Louis Schweitzer, then ACEA chairman, told Automotive News Europe that 120g/km by 2012 was an “unreasonable” target.
Carmakers argue that consumers shun low fuel consumption vehicles and that the investment required to bring CO2 emissions to the 120g/km level is prohibitive.
ACEA carmakers publicly say they can only meet their commitment to 140g/km by 2008.
But European carmakers may be ready for a compromise. EU sources say ACEA suggested in a preliminary note to the EU in December that cutting CO2 emissions by 5% between 2008 and 2012 might be possible. This would mean a CO2 emission average of 133g/km.
ACEA spokesman Alfredo Filippone denied the group made any such suggestion.
EU figures show the CO2 reduction since 1995 has been slightly less than suggested by carmakers – 10.8% instead of 12.1% claimed by ACEA.
According to an EU official, who declined to be named, ACEA is being less transparent with its CO2 figures than JAMA.
