The average CO2 emissions of cars sold in Germany in 2007 fell by 1.7% to almost 170g/km, according to the vehicle manufacturers’ trade association, the Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA).
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The VDA said that the average CO2 emissions of German manufacturers had fallen 2%, compared to 1.3% for importers. Average emissions of Japanese cars sold in Germany fell 0.6% and those of French manufacturers by 0.8%.
VDA president Matthias Wissmann is keen to show that German manufacturers are using their engineering strength to reduce emissions, and that they are working harder to do this than other manufacturers. He believes that the German automotive industry is being penalised by proposed European legislation on fleet average CO2 emissions from cars, which would require manufacturers that exceed average limits to pay fines. Because of German manufacturers’ focus on premium vehicles, they tend to be high CO2 emitters. He thinks that it would be fairer if all manufacturers were required to bring emissions down by a certain percentage across the board.
The argument against this is that is much harder, in percentage terms, for manufacturers of smaller, more efficient cars, such as the French and Italian manufacturers, to reduce emissions from cars which are already relatively efficient.
At a press conference in Berlin, Wissmann said: “Thanks to the innovation of manufacturers and suppliers we have achieved the highest reductions in the last year. The German automotive industry is therefore the market leader in improving efficiency – ahead of our European and Asian competitors. That means: Climate protection is not an advertising slogan for us. We are working hard to make a contribution to CO2 reduction.”
Wissmann called on the EU Commission to require more than a 10g/km reduction in average CO2 per vehicle from non-powertrain related technologies such as biofuels, tyres, tyre pressure monitoring systems and gear change indicators. He called for less punitive legislation against vehicle manufacturers and more support for technology and innovation.
