New car average CO2 falls 1.4% in 2007; car sales up 2.5%
Tue 08 January 2008
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The average level of carbon dioxide emissions for new cars sold in the UK fell by 1.4% in 2007 compared with 2006 to 164.9 g/km, 13% below 1997 levels. However, car sales continued to boom and were up 2.5% to 2.4m vehicles last year.
The SMMT reported that fuel-efficient diesel models took a record 40.2% share, while the 'supermini' and small family car segments also posted sharp growth.
The most popular car in 2007 was the Ford Focus, as it has been every year since 1999, with Ford the best-selling manufacturer.
Paul Everitt, the SMMT's chief executive said: "This is further evidence of the progress made by car makers in driving down CO2. The industry will continue to invest in the technologies that bring greener cars to market, and is committed to working in partnership with government and other stakeholders through initiatives like ActOnCO2, to drive home greener motoring messages to our customers."
Environmental groups were less impressed. Commenting on the UK's 1.4% cut in average new car CO2 emissions, Friends of the Earth's Tony Bosworth commented: "Today's figures show another year of poor progress in cutting new car emissions. Average emissions have fallen slightly, but nowhere near the levels required and the industry will miss its 2008 emissions target by a mile. Car companies must do much more to tackle climate change, instead of fighting tooth and nail against new EU proposals. What we need is more action and less self-interested lobbying".
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