With a rising focus on achieving zero emissions, GlobalData’s Mentions per Company* index found that mentions (per company) of ‘Emissions’ in automotive company filings was up 17% in Q2 2022** over Q1 2022, while rising 9% compared to Q2 2021. The leading data and analytics company found that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Toyota, General Motors (GM), and Ford were some of the companies with the most mentions of ‘Emissions’ and related keywords.

Rinaldo Pereira, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Regulatory scrutiny on automakers around emissions has increased and is leading to newer regulations and stringent enforcement programs. Firms are worried about tightening regulations since the Stage VI emission standards. OEMs expect stricter regulations in the future and have turned towards electrification. An example is Toyota, which expects to achieve annual global sales of eight million electric vehicles (EV) by 2030 by launching newer models. According to the company, it is likely to expand its EV portfolio to 70 in 2025.”

GM’s vision is to go carbon neutral by 2040 while focusing on mitigating and eliminating tailpipe emissions in newer light vehicles by 2035. An analysis of GlobalData’s Company Filings Analytics database also reveals that GM is looking at using 100% renewable energy in its US plants by 2025.

Ford issued green bonds worth $2.5 billion for sustainable financing and is likely to use the net proceeds from the issuance in designing and manufacturing battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The company also expects to make further multi-billion-dollar investments in EV development plans.

Pereira concludes: “The rise in the index of ‘Mentions per Company’ showcases that automotive companies continue to focus on discussions around mitigating emissions amid stricter regulations. The index was largely on an uptrend in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic and peaked in Q1 2021, with companies having more discussions around upcoming 2025 or 2030 targets. As the targets near, we’re likely to see more disclosures or milestones around said emission targets with firms working towards a 2040 or 2050 carbon neutrality.”

* The ‘Mentions per Company’ index is calculated by taking the number of mentions of emissions and dividing it by the number of companies.

** Until 17 May