The report, by automotive consulting group JATO Dynamic, reveals that by the end of the first nine months of 2008, the best performing 50 percent of the new car market is now averaging 130g/km, a figure which compares favourably to 39 percent in 2007 and only 24 percent back in 2003.
However, with EU targets now set to achieve 100 percent compliance by 2015, the industry must act swiftly and decisively to have a realistic chance of meeting this requirement within the 6 year time frame.
Advances in vehicle technology are making significant inroads into reducing CO2 emissions.
The report also reveals that countries that have introduced CO2 based taxation systems have generally witnessed the biggest reductions in emissions. Many European markets have benefited from the increasing popularity of the small ‘B’ segment cars, which are amongst the most efficient in the market place.
SUVs witnessed a decline in popularity in the first nine months of 2008, a trend that should assist in the ongoing reduction in emissions. JATO suggests that SUVs currently account for 9.4 percent of the total of European new car emissions.
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