New rules for car manufacturers could reduce emissions

The European Parliament's environment committee has agreed a compromise with car manufacturers in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new proposal highlights emission targets for 2020 and 2025 in an aim to make cars more efficient.

New cars should not emit more than 95 grams of carbon dioxide per-km (g/km) from 2020. This figure should be further lowered by 2025 to between 68 and 78g/km. The exact figure for the 2025 target will be decided upon by January 2017.

This decision was pushed back from the date the committee originally wanted - 2014 - in an effort to appease the car industry. Many other split-the-difference type compromises were also made for the final report. This report was then approved by the committee with a 45-vote margin.

Otmar Lell, a spokesman for the Federation of German Consumers, said: "The 95g target is very good news for consumers, it will help consumers reduce their expenses. This is what consumers need these days, because fuel prices have risen a lot, and continue to rise."

Unfortunately the car production industry in Europe is concerned that the targets will mean higher manufacturing costs. This could mean a lower fleet renewal and a disadvantage in terms of automobile competition.

Ivan Hodac, secretary-general of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), said: "The outcome of today's ENVI committee vote sends a worrying signal for the future of the industry in Europe. By setting unrealistic and politically-motivated long term targets without scientific basis, MEPs have taken a dangerous short-cut on the road to achieving the EU's long-term climate goals."   

The EU has given car manufacturers some leeway in reaching their emissions goals via the use of super-credits. The super-credits allow manufacturers to continue with the production of fuel-intensive cars if they are also producing low emission vehicles - like electric cars. Super-credits have been seen as an incentive to manufacturers to make more low emission vehicles.