Carmakers failing to meet EU targets
Carmakers failing to meet EU targets
Wednesday, 27, Aug 2008 12:01
Top UK-based car manufacturers, including Honda and Ford, are failing to meet proposed EU targets for reducing emissions, a new report has revealed.
Honda performed worst, with an increase of 1.1 per cent in emissions between 2006 and 2007. Ford (which includes Jaguar and Land Rover) dropped emissions by 0.2 per cent, Nissan by 0.5 per cent, General Motors (which includes Vauxhall) by 0.6 per cent and Toyota by 2.4 per cent.
BMW, which manufactures Mini in the UK, performed best with a drop of 7.3 per cent.
The report was produced by Brussels-based environmental transport group Transport and Environment (T&E), of which Friends of the Earth is a member.
"The car industry as a whole must make much faster progress in designing and building smarter cars that use less fuel for the sake of both drivers and the environment," Friends of the Earth's senior transport campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said.
"MEPs must stand firm against the self-interested lobbying of the car industry and vote for tough new standards to cut emissions from cars."
The group is calling on MEPs to vote for tough new EU carbon dioxide targets for new cars in the next fortnight.
Members of the European parliament's environment committee will vote on the targets on September 8th and 9th but environmental activists are warning of motor industry attempts to water the plans down.
Average UK emissions from new cars have decreased slightly, according to the T&E report, although they remain well above the European average.