Following the adoption of the European Commission’s proposals to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and vans, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) will now work with its members to conduct a full analysis of how the proposed targets should be reached as well as their feasibility, and what this means in practice for the industry as a whole.
The auto industry shares concerns about global warming and is contributing actively to find sustainable solutions. In 2011, the average fleet emissions were 136.6g CO2/km compared to 186g/km in 1995, which is a 26.6% decrease over the period.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
“It is clear that CO2 levels from vehicles have to continue on their downward trend and the industry is committed to deliver on this,” said Ivan Hodac, ACEA secretary general.
However, the proposal to reach a fleet-average target of 95g/km for cars and 147g/km for vans by 2020 will remain extremely challenging.
“These are tough targets – the toughest in the world,” said Hodac.
Contrary to some claims, the proposed targets for the European fleet are far more stringent than those in the US, China or Japan. This will increase manufacturing costs in Europe, creating a competitive disadvantage for the region and further slowing the renewal of the fleet.
In the context of declining car sales for the past five years running, the proposed targets would place an extra strain on manufacturers. The outlook for the industry as a whole is also pessimistic. In 2012 new car registrations are expected to decrease by about 7% compared to 2011, and sales are set to drop from 13.1m to 12.2m. This is a record low since 1995.
“Considering that most manufacturers are losing money in Europe at the moment, the industry needs as competitive a framework as possible. Targets – while ambitious – must be feasible. The overall regulatory framework and market environment must be supportive, as also agreed in the recently concluded CARS 21 process,” said Hodac.
“The industry is diverse; the CO2-legislation is complex, and the cost implications are huge. ACEA and its members will now take the time they need to investigate the details of these proposals and their envisaged consequences.”
