Cleaner Cars Drive Home Industry Progress on Sustainability

Seventh annual new car CO2 report published today (18.03.08) by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Over the last ten years, significant and sustained progress has been made in cutting CO2 emissions from new cars. Among comprehensive figures in SMMT’s latest CO2 report is the headline that average CO2 has fallen 13% since 1997. Publication of the seventh annual report also reinforces the industry’s drive towards open and honest reporting on sustainability measures. Highlights from the report, which is available to download from the home page of the SMMT web site, include:

  • A 13% improvement in average CO2 reduction since 1997
  • 39.5% of new car market under 140g/km CO2 last year; just 3.9% in 1997
  • Band B emitting cars set to overtake Band G sellers for the first time in 2008
  • Diesel penetration at 40.2% in the UK; 26.5% in 1997
  • Diesel duty lower than petrol in all major European markets except the UK
  • Total CO2 emitted by cars has fallen 4.8% since 1997; 72.2 to 68.7 million tonnes
  • Government revenue from motorists up from £33.8 to £45.1 bn since 1997
    • The report was launched to the All Party Motor Group of MPs at a House of Commons event on 17 March 2008.

Notes:

At €20 bn, the automotive sector is Europe's largest investor in R&D, driving industry forward and helping deliver more sustainable motoring for the 21st century. Technological innovation has helped car and CV manufacturers slash CO2 and air quality emissions from vehicles. New diesel cars for example emit 95% less soot from the tailpipe than those made 15 years ago and average new car CO2 has been cut by 13% since 1997. Each vehicle made in Britain requires half the energy to produce than it did just five years ago, saving an estimated 700,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. Total combined waste to landfill down by more than half, from 80,399 tonnes in 2000 to 39,862 tonnes in 2006.