Car buyers choose to go green

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Sales of cars in cleanest tax bands rise
Buyers choosing cleaner cars
More cars are now cleaner, too

There's evidence that car buyers are purchasing cleaner cars

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There's new evidence that car buyers are choosing cleaner, greener cars.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released figures that show that just over 60% of cars sold last year fell within the cleanest tax bands (bands A-D), compared with just over 43% in 2000 (road tax bands are based on carbon dioxide emissions).

Part of the reason more cars are in this class is because cars are becoming cleaner, so more are falling into these tax bands - but it's not the whole story.

There has been a shift in car-buying patterns over this time period: 'More people have been buying superminis and small family cars in recent years - that's partly a result of them being more aware of climate change issues, and also because of Government taxation incentives,' said an SMMT spokeswoman.

The SMMT's chief executive, Christopher Macgowan, added that 'concerns about motoring costs' also had a part to play. 'However, we should not underplay significant fuel economy and carbon dioxide savings from technological advances in new models, including premium brands,' he said.

Car makers' environmental advances*
• New diesel cars emit 95% less soot than those made 15 years ago;
• Average new-car carbon dioxide emissions have been cut by 12% since 1997;
• Each car made in the UK requires half as much energy to make it as it did five years ago, saving an estimated 700,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year;
• Waste to landfill per vehicle has been cut by a factor of four, from 66.4kg in 2001 to 14.5kg in 2005;
• The new Mini Cooper is 19% better on fuel economy and 16% better on carbon dioxide emissions than its predecessor;
• The Land Rover Freelander is 10% better on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions than the model it replaces;
• Jaguar's average carbon dioxide emissions have been cut by 31.5% since 1997, a figure helped by its newer, more fuel-efficient diesel engines.

* Statistics from the SMMT's Sustainability Report

• Have you seen our new Green Car Buyer's Guide? It's packed with all the information you need to make sure your next car is as green as it can be, and what you can do now to drive in a more environmentally friendly way. Click here to find out more.