The European Commission’s “Fit for 55,” regulatory proposals are intended to secure a European Union (EU) economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of at least 55% by 2030. One of the regulatory proposals adopted by the EC is to amend the mandatory CO2 emission targets for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans).

This paper reviews recent developments in the European passenger car market and assesses the implications for the proposed post-2021 CO2 emissions targets.

This briefing paper provides an overview of CO2 emission levels of new passenger cars in the European Union in 2020 based on a preliminary dataset recently released by the European Environment Agency.

With introduction of the EU’s first CO2 standard for new passenger cars, official type-approval emissions decreased at a rate of about 3.5% per year, compared to about 1.2% prior to regulation. The 2015 target of 130 g/km was met well in advance by manufacturers.

Applying the ICCT Roadmap Model, three scenarios were modeled to assess the required level of type-approval CO2 emission reduction for new passenger cars and vans: Adopted policies: Average new car CO2 emissions decrease by 15% by 2025 and 37.5% by 2030, relative to 2021. For vans, the reduction is 15% by 2025 and 31% by 2030, relative to 2020.

As part of the roadmap to achieve its climate-neutrality goal, the European Commission will come forward with a proposal for revised CO2 targets for new passenger cars and vans by the middle of 2021.

The European vehicle market statistics pocketbook offers a statistical portrait of passenger car and light commercial vehicle fleets in the European Union, updated annually. The emphasis is on vehicle technologies and emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which combine an electric and a conventional combustion engine drive train, offer the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and local air pollution if they drive mainly on electricity.

The European vehicle market statistics pocketbook offers a statistical portrait of passenger car and light commercial vehicle fleets in the European Union, updated annually. The emphasis is on vehicle technologies and emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.

The report highlights the limitations of current emissions standards and provides detailed recommendations to overcome them. The recommendations cover several topics where the current light-duty vehicle emission standards should be strengthened.