Vehicle Emissions in Europe Continue to Decline
Recent data reveals a continued drop in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new vehicles across the European Union, Iceland, and Norway. This progress is largely attributed to the stricter emission standards implemented since 2020, signaling a positive shift in the automotive industry.
In 2022, passenger car emissions averaged 108.1 g CO2/km during laboratory testing. This figure represents a 5.3% drop compared to 2021 and a significant 27% decrease from 2019 levels. The growing prevalence of electric vehicles (EVs) is a primary catalyst for this downward trend. EVs accounted for 23% of the new car market in 2022, with fully electric cars making up 13.5%.
Van emissions also saw a reduction, decreasing by approximately 4.9% compared to 2021 while vans decreased by 10% since 2019. In 2022, the average CO2 emissions for vans were 183.8 g CO2/km. The proportion of electric vans also grew, rising from 3.5% in 2021 to 6.2% in 2022.
These emission reductions are vital for meeting the EU’s climate goals. The continued decline in CO2 emissions from new cars and vans is essential to achieve the targets outlined in the revised CO2 emission performance standards, moving toward the EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050.
Only one manufacturer exceeded its emission target in 2022 and will have to pay a penalty.
9.4 million new passenger cars were registered in the EU, Iceland, and Norway in 2022.
One million new vans were registered in the EU, Iceland, and Norway in 2022.
