CO2 labels becoming more widespread

• Colour-coding system adopted by more dealers
• Labels show carbon dioxide emissions
• More dealers need to display stickers

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Colour-coded bands highlighting carbon dioxide emissions of new cars are being adopted by an increasing majority of car dealers, according to research by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership.

The voluntary initiative, introduced in 2005, provides simple-to-understand information on carbon dioxide emissions and annual running costs of cars.

The labels show a car's carbon dioxide emissions on fridge-style energy efficiency labels, with band 'A' (coloured green) highlighting low emissions and band 'G' (red) warning of high-polluting vehicles.

Of 400 dealers surveyed, 86% displayed the label, a rise of 12% since last year, and 65% of showroom cars were labelled, a rise from 55% a year ago.

Less than 10% of dealers had no knowledge about what information the labels actually showed.

'This improved performance is positive, but we're not where we should be yet,' said Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT) president Graham Smith.

'We will continue to encourage all dealers to include this key information in their showrooms and be crystal-clear about explaining to our customers the benefits and relationship between lower carbon emissions and lower-cost motoring.'

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