New car carbon emissions hit record low

A combination of the government's Scrappage Incentive Scheme and the recession helped reduce new car CO2 emissions by their biggest ever margin last year, as car buyers traded in polluting vehicles for more environmentally friendly models.

The average new car sold in the UK last year emitted 149.5g of CO2 per kilometre, down 5.4 per cent on the 2008 figure and marking a 21.2 per cent improvement on the official 1997 base level, according to the annual New Car CO2 Report released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The rate of reduction was the best on record, three times the average rate achieved since data was first measured in 1997.

Although reductions in average emissions were made across all model segments, it was MPVs and 4x4s that made the biggest improvement against their 1997 base levels, both delivering cuts in average emissions of more than 27 per cent.

Small cars, defined by the SMMT as "minis", and specialist sports cars delivered the biggest cuts in the past year, with average emissions falling 6.7 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively on 2008 figures.

The report showed that overall more than a quarter of cars registered in the UK last year emitted less than 130g/km, the target set by the EU for member state's fleets from 2015.

The study also provides further evidence that CO2-based road taxes are affecting purchasing decisions, with relatively low-emission Band E vehicles (131-140g/km) proving the most popular with new car buyers, compared to Band H (166-175g/km) in 1997.

However, Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, warned that without a long-term and consistent approach to vehicle taxation and environmental incentives, the industry would struggle to maintain the current rate of improvements.

"Vehicle manufacturers have invested heavily in both improving conventional technologies and bringing advanced systems to market that reduce the environmental impact of new vehicles," he said. "Whilst scrappage incentives made a positive contribution to fleet renewal in 2009, there is a risk that over the next few years, motorists may be deterred from investing in the latest technology."