CO2 performance emissions of new vans in Europe

With stricter CO₂ emission targets in force since 2020, average CO₂ emissions measured during type-approval from new vans registered in Europe continue to fall. In 2021, the average CO₂ emissions fell by 3.5% compared to 2020, triggered by a growth in the share of new electric vans, most of which were fully electric. In 2021, most van manufacturers and all pools of manufacturers met their binding CO₂ emission targets.

Emissions from transport account for one quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve climate neutrality, the European Green Deal calls for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 2050.

To help achieve these targets, Regulation (EU) 2019/631 sets an EU fleet-wide emission target of 147g CO₂/km for newly registered vans in Europe for the years 2020-2024. From 2021 onwards, the specific emission targets for manufacturers, either individually or organised in pools, are expressed on the basis of the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), which results in higher emission values than the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). This is illustrated in Figure 1.

From 2025 onwards, Regulation (EU) 2019/631 sets stricter EU-wide fleet targets: 153.9g/km from 2025 (15% reduction compared to the 2021 baseline), 90.6g/km from 2030 (50% reduction) and 0g/km from 2035 (100% reduction).

Average CO₂ emissions of new vans registered in Europe steadily fell in the past years: a 2% reduction in 2020 was followed by a drop of 3.5% in 2021, reaching an average of 193.3g CO₂/km (WLTP).

The main reason for this trend is the growing share of electric vehicle (EV) registrations, which increased from 2.3% in 2020 to 3.5% in 2021. Of these, 3.4% were full electric vehicles, with Norway, Iceland and Sweden having the highest shares (17.3%; 8.2% and 8.1% of their total new vans fleets, respectively).

Specific emission targets are set annually for each manufacturer or a group of vehicle manufacturers acting together as a pool, and are calculated based on the average mass of its new vehicle fleet in a given year. This means that manufacturers of heavier vans have higher emissions targets than manufacturers of lighter vans.

Pools and individual manufacturers responsible for fewer than 22,000 newly registered vans registered in the EU per calendar year may benefit from a derogation target.

Among those pools with more than 22,000 vans registered, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi pool had the lowest average CO₂ emissions in 2021 (183g CO₂/km), followed by the Stellantis pool and the Volkswagen-Ford-SAIC-Goupil pool with average CO₂ emissions 185g and 198g CO₂/km respectively.

Among individual manufacturers with more than 22,000 registrations in 2021, PSA achieved the lowest average CO₂ emissions at 145g CO₂/km, followed by Renault SAS and Toyota Motor Europe NV SA, with average CO₂ emissions ranging from 183 to 191g CO2/km.

In 2021, only two individual manufacturers (Renault Trucks and SSangyong Motor Company) exceeded their CO₂ emissions targets and will therefore be required to pay an excess emission premium of EUR 95 per van registered per g/km of target exceedance.

Supporting information

DefinitionMethodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

EU average specific CO₂ emissions are calculated as the average emissions (as recorded in the certificates of conformity, based on type approval values) of all new vans first registered in the EU in a particular year. For calculating manufacturers/pools’ average emissions, eco-innovation savings are also taken into account.

For each manufacturer/pool, an annual specific emissions target is calculated on the basis of the fleet-wide target and the average ‘mass in running order’ of the registered vehicles, using the formula in ANNEX 1, part B of Regulation (EU) 2019/631.

Methodology for gap filling

No gap filling was applied.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Policy/environmental relevance

As the transport sector represents almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, it is a major contributor to climate change. It remains one of the only sectors of the EU economy where emissions are still above 1990 levels. Within this sector, road transport is the biggest emitter accounting for the majority of all transport greenhouse gas emissions. It is crucial to accelerate emission reductions from the transport sector overall and its road segment, in order to deliver on the stricter future targets the EU has committed to, as well as the objective to reach economy-wide climate neutrality by 2050.

Accuracy and uncertaintiesData sources and providers

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References and footnotes

European Commission, 2021, 'A European Green Deal', European Commission - European Commission (https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en) accessed May 17, 2022.

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EU, 2019, Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 setting CO₂ emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No 510/2011, OJ L 111, 25.4.2019, p. 13-53.

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