Car makers hit back at EU criticism

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

EU wants legislation to force CO2 reduction
Industry says its committed to reducing emissions
Claims EU is partly to blame for slow progress

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The European car industry has reacted angrily to comments from the EU that question car makers' commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

European car manufacturers had agreed in 1998 to reduce the average CO2 output of cars to 140g/km by 2008. The latest figures put the average at 161g/km, a 1.2% improvement on the previous year, but the EU says this rate of improvement isn't good enough. European environment commissioner Stavros Dimas last week called for legislation to cut CO2 from cars.

The Association of European Car Manufacturers has responded by underlining its commitment to the agreement, and that no legislation was needed to ensure success.

It puts the slowing of progress down to the fact that customers are choosing bigger, safer cars instead of the super-clean, fuel-efficient models brought to the market in line with the agreement. It was also said that stringent EU safety regulations has also had counter-productive effects on development.

A statement by the Association of European Car Manufacturers (ACEA) said: 'The efforts and achievements of the car industry to reduce CO2 emissions remain without comparison and should not be disregarded. To date, results are in line with the CO2 commitment. According to its requirements, regulatory measures are therefore neither envisaged nor necessary.'

The statement also said that the problems of reducing greenhouse gas emissions can't be solved by targeting car manufacturers alone. A more holistic approach should involve increasing the availability of alternative fuels and influencing driver behaviour.