Following reports that the EU could further tighten its rules for reducing company fleet average new vehicle CO2 emission levels by 2030;

David Leggett, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: 

“The possibility of an even more ambitious 2030 CO2 reduction target for average emissions from new vehicles will alarm many in Europe’s auto industry, particularly as it takes a big hit from the financial impact of the current pandemic.

“Vehicle manufacturers face a considerable challenge to meet the tougher EU fleet average CO2 targets from this year onwards and face very hefty fines if they fail to do so.

“The rollout of lower emission vehicles – especially plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles – is a big part of the strategy to meet the tougher rules, but they are much more expensive to bring to market than the diesels which were at the heart of company CO2 reduction plans in Europe until fairly recently.

“While automotive companies are doing what they can to electrify product and reduce their carbon footprints, they will rightly question why the EU wants to make things even more difficult for them in a globally highly competitive industry that is such an important provider of economic activity and employment.”