Car manufacturers have received a pat on the back from the SMMT for reducing their carbon footprint by nearly five million tonnes of CO2 in the past 10 years – despite the number of cars dramatically rising by more than 16%.
The savings have come from introducing more fuel-efficient cars and energy-saving car manufacturing techniques.
Cars today require half the energy to produce than they used to do ten years ago. Similarly, in 1997 less than 7% of cars sold produced 140g/km, whereas in 2006 more than 21% came close to meeting the European Community’s 130g/km average limit for new cars that will be imposed on manufacturers by 2012
SMMT boss Christopher Macgowan praised manufacturers for real-world reduction in tailpipe emissions, while calling for a major rethink of carmakers.
“[Manufacturers] have to be part of the solution, not just seen as a problem,” he said. “The truth is the motor industry has a good news story to tell that will probably surprise many people.”
