2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
According to a study, German manufacturers fail because of the climate values required by the EU. Only five companies will meet or even exceed the target values by 2008.
The EU climate standards are turning into a farce. According to a study by the European Association for Transport and Environment (Tund E), three quarters of the 20 best-selling car brands in Europe will fall short of the average values required by 2008. According to this, no more than 140 grams of carbon dioxide should be emitted per kilometer driven.
Renault in the fast lane
While Renault, the second largest car brand in Europe, will achieve the target value of the EU, Volkswagen, Europe's largest car brand, fails significantly. The Wolfsburg-based group has improved its consumption values by less than half the required rate.
“The large German manufacturers in particular are lagging far behind when it comes to reducing consumption. The European auto industry's commitment to lowering CO2 emissions from new cars will definitely fail. Now clear political guidelines for more climate protection in road traffic are inevitable”, criticized Hermann-Josef, deputy chairman of the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD). In order to increase the pressure on manufacturers, the VCD calls for the rapid introduction of binding CO2 limit values for new vehicles across Europe.
Study premiere
For the first time, the study examines the progress made by individual car brands in reducing CO2 emissions in line with the automotive industry's commitments to the EU in 1998-99. In return for the obligation of the automotive industry at the time, it was agreed not to disclose the performance of individual automotive companies in reducing their own emissions.
Improving the fuel consumption of new cars is one of the most important methods of solving the climate change problem, because the more fuel a vehicle uses, the more CO2 is released into the atmosphere.
Nissan in the end, Fiat top
Nissan does even worse than VW, followed by Suzuki, Mazda, Audi, Volvo, BMW and Volkswagen. These seven brands have all missed their own emissions targets by more than half. Fiat is doing best in Europe, followed by Citroën, Renault, Ford and Peugeot. These five manufacturers meet or exceed their target by 2008.
Toyota's image as an environmentally friendly company could not be maintained either. Despite the low-emission Prius hybrid vehicle, the Japanese do not meet the emission improvements for the entire model range to the specified extent. The study comes to the conclusion that it is not enough to have one or two low-emission models, which are only sold in limited numbers, in the model range.
Required by law
Aat Peterse from T und E says: “Renault meets its target, Volkswagen does not, although Renault started in 1997 with higher emissions. The targets are achievable, of course, but as long as seventy-five percent of automakers get away with not meeting their targets, we will never make the necessary progress. Europe has to say goodbye to voluntary default values and shouldn't lose time in setting legally binding measured values in order to halve fuel consumption in the coming decade. The individual car manufacturers must be held responsible and punished if they do not meet the requirements."
