Average CO2 emissions from newly registered motor vehicles in Europe

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• No published assessments

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

The Transport White Paper sets an objective of reducing transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60 % by 2050, compared with 1990 levels. By 2030, the goal for transport will be to reduce GHG emissions to around 20 % below their 2008 level (or 8 % above the 1990 level). GHG emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles represent almost three-quarters of all GHG emissions in road transport (see EEA GHG data viewer). Given their dominance, it is of utmost importance to reach a balance between societal and economic demands, and environmental targets. 

This indicator has been selected to monitor the fuel efficiency improvements of newly registered passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. It enables the assessment of progress towards the targets set by Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 and Regulation (EU) No 510/2011. These two Regulations have been repealed by the Regulation (EU) No 2019/631

Scientific references

• No rationale references available

Indicator definition

Average specific CO₂ emissions means the CO₂ emissions of passenger cars or light commercial vehicles measured in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and specified as the CO₂ mass emissions (combined) in the certificate of conformity. It includes new motor vehicles registered in the specific year in the EU-28. As of 1 January 2018, data from Iceland are also included and as of January 2019, data from Norway are included.

Units

For new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, tailpipe emissions are expressed in grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (g CO₂/km).

Policy context and targets

Context description

In 1995, the European Commission adopted a Community strategy to reduce CO₂ emissions from passenger cars and improve fuel economy. The strategy was based on the following pillars:

• an agreement with the auto industry on a reduction in the fuel consumption of new cars sold; 
• the promotion of fuel-efficient cars via fiscal measures; and
• improved consumer information.

In 1998, a voluntary agreement was reached between the European Commission and the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) to reduce average emissions from new cars sold to 140 g CO₂/km by 2008. Voluntary commitments from Japanese and Korean manufacturers set a target of 140 g CO₂/km by 2009.

In February 2007, the Commission adopted a Communication on the results of the review of the Community Strategy to reduce CO₂ emissions from passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles. It acknowledged that progress went some way towards a target of 140 g CO₂/km, but highlighted that the EU objective of 120 g CO₂/km would not be met by 2012 in the absence of additional measures. 

Therefore, the European Commission decided to establish CO₂ emission performance requirements for new passenger cars in 2009. A similar approach was established for new light commercial vehicles in 2011.

On 19 April 2019, the European Parliament and the Council adopted a regulation that established CO₂ emission performance requirements for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles (vans) in the European Union post-2020.  

Targets

For new passenger cars, Regulation (EU) No 443/2009 sets the average CO₂ specific emission target at 130 g CO₂/km by 2015. This is defined as the average value for the fleet of newly registered passenger cars in the EU. A target of 95 g CO₂/km was set for 2021 (phase-in from 2020).

For new light commercial vehicles, Regulation (EU) No 510/2011 sets the average CO₂ emissions target at 175 g CO₂/km by 2017. This is defined as the average value for the fleet of newly registered vans in the EU. A medium-term target of 147 g CO₂/km was set for 2020.

Related policy documents

• REGULATION (EC) No 443/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 443/2009
  Regulation (ec) no 443/2009 of the European parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the community's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles.
• Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 on type approval of motor vehicles
  REGULATION (EC) No 715/2007 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information
• REGULATION (EU) No 510/2011
  REGULATION (EU) No 510/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL setting emission performance standards for new light commercial vehicles as part of the Union's integrated approach to reduce CO 2 emissions from light-duty vehicles

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Average specific emissions of CO₂ are calculated as a weighted average of the Member State's fleet of new registrations in a particular year. 

Methodology for gap filling

No gap filling is foreseen. 

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• Monitoring of CO2 emissions from passenger cars – Regulation (EU) No 631/2019 provided by Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG-CLIMA)
• Monitoring of CO2 emissions from vans – Regulation 510/2011 provided by Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG-CLIMA)
• Monitoring of CO2 emissions from passenger cars – Regulation 443/2009 provided by Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG-CLIMA)

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Member States report CO₂ emission levels of new vehicles, measured under standardised laboratory conditions and following the requirements of the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test procedure. Due to growing acceptance that the NEDC test procedure was outdated and did not necessarily represent real-world driving conditions and emissions, in June 2016, the European Commission proposed to adopt the more demanding World Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), a globally harmonised test procedure developed within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Following recent agreement within the EU, the new WLTP test is now mandatory for all new vehicle types introduced after September 2017 and for all new vehicles from September 2018.

Data sets uncertainty

The EEA performs several quality checks to evaluate the accuracy and quality of the data sets. On the basis of these checks, and feedback from Member States and vehicle manufacturers, the EEA and the European Commission assess the corrections and, where justified, take them into account for the calculation of average CO₂ emissions and specific emission targets. The EEA then finalises and publishes the data.

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified.