Each manufacturer has a different target, based on the average mass of their fleet, which is gradually phased in, meaning that in 2012 only 65% of each manufacturer’s fleet needed to meet the target, increasing to 100% of cars in 2015. By 2020, current legislation states that the average car sold in the EU must not emit more than 95 g CO₂/km.

Other key findings of the report include:

• The report defines large manufacturers as the 20 companies selling more than 100,000 cars in 2012. Cars sold by these companies made up 94.5% of the total fleet, and emitted 130.4 g CO₂/km on average, which is 1.8 g lower than the European fleet average.

• Of the large manufacturers, Fiat had the lowest average emissions (117 g CO₂/km). Renault, Peugeot, Toyota and Citroen also had emissions well below the average. At the other end of the scale, Daimler cars emitted 143 g CO₂/km on average, with similar emissions levels from cars made by Volvo, Mazda and GM Korea. Compared to 2011, Daimler and Volvo decreased their emission by more than 9 g CO₂/km.

• More than 10% of the vehicles sold by Toyota and Renault emitted less than 95 g CO₂/km.

• Manufacturers may meet their targets either individually or as part of a pool of carmakers. Of the manufacturers that missed their individual targets, some were able to meet targets through pooling. When derogations and pools are considered, 74 manufacturers out of 85 met 2012 targets.

• The regulation foresees the allocation of supercredits for new passenger cars with CO₂ emissions lower than 50 g CO₂/km. These vehicles are given a greater weight in calculating the average specific emissions as they are considered equivalent to 3.5 cars in 2012 and 2013, 2.5 cars in 2014, 1.5 cars in 2015, and 1 car in 2016.

  Although supercredits give carmakers an advantage for selling electric vehicles or cars with very low emissions, these credits did not influence whether large manufacturers met their targets, the report shows. These credits will be phased out between 2012 and 2016.

• Despite emissions reductions between 2011 and 2012, the average weight of cars increased to 1,402 kg, the heaviest in the last three years.

• There were seven manufacturers selling only electric vehicles in the EU in 2012, according to the report. Larger manufacturers are also involved—in total 20 manufacturers sold electric models in the EU in 2012.

• 18 manufacturers are compliant with their 2013 and 2014 targets.

• In order to be compliant with the 2015 targets, six manufacturers have to reduce the average emissions of their fleets by less than 5 g CO₂/km over the next three years. Only two manufacturers have to reduce the average emissions by more than 10 g CO₂/km over the same period.

Earlier this year, the EEA analysed preliminary car registration data for 2012, showing car buying habits across the EU. Danish and Portuguese people buy the most efficient cars, the data showed.

Resources

• CO₂ emissions performance of car manufacturers in 2012