Lowest and highest CO2-emitting auto brands revealed

The slow rate of CO2 emissions reductions across the Australian auto industry has come into sharp focus again today, with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries releasing data that shows just how many brands are missing their targets.

Only a third of all car-makers selling new vehicles in Australia last year managed to meet their individual CO2 emissions target under the FCAI’s voluntary code that was introduced in 2020.

That applies across the two major categories set down under the FCAI’s CO2 standard: passenger cars and lighter SUVs (category MA); and heavier-duty SUVs and light commercial vehicles, mainly utes (category MC+NA).

We’ve listed the best and worst performers below, which are not the brands with the lowest and highest emissions across their range but those that either bettered their specific CO2 target for 2021 or missed it by a long shot.

Among the lighter SUVs and passenger cars, just 13 brands from 39 operating in the marketplace last year hit their target.

Mercedes-Benz Vans was out in front, reflecting the performance of its low-volume van-based people-movers, followed closely by market leader Toyota, which sold more than 100,000 new cars in this category last year, most of them hybrids.

Strikingly, Toyota was the only brand in Australia with average CO2 emissions below 100g/km last year, at 97g/km, thanks to record hybrid sales (65,491) that accounted for 29 per cent of its total volume of more than 223,000 units.

Those brands which bettered their emissions target for passenger cars and lighter SUVs were:

The worst performers in this category, each missing their target by at least 34g/km, were:

Of the 26 brands selling utes and/or large SUVs last year, only nine of them bettered their emissions target and all bar one are European marques that are actively introducing electrified powertrains and other low-emissions technology.

In order, these top performers were:

The worst performers, which missed their specific emissions target by at least 50g/km, were:

The figures underscore just how much work the Australian car industry has ahead of it to make any significant reductions in average CO2 emissions, which have been stagnating for years.

Industry-wide figures released two weeks ago showed that average CO2 emissions across all LCVs/large SUVs sold last year were 212.5g/km, which is a slight improvement on 2020 (218g/km) but much higher than the targeted 193g/km.

These vehicles made up 37 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia last year (excluding heavy commercials), while the balance – lighter SUVs and passenger cars – returned a CO2 average of 146.5g/CO2, which marked a slight reduction over the 150g/km target set.

There are no penalties for car-makers who fail to achieve their targets under the voluntary emissions standard that was introduced in 2020 in the absence of mandatory government regulations found overseas.

The industry is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions to 145g/km by 2030 for LCVs and heavy SUVs, and to below 100g/km for passenger cars and other SUVs.

These targets are where other markets such as Europe were required to be in 2021, placing the Aussie industry at least a decade behind.

Commenting on the brands’ performances, FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the results are “testimony to the commitment automotive manufacturers have to lower emissions in Australia’s transport sector”.

“Globally automotive manufacturers continue to spend billions of dollars on reducing the environmental impact of their vehicles,” he said.

“In the absence of a federally-led emissions reduction target, FCAI members have signed up to this standard to support the introduction of the cleanest technologies to Australia’s roads.

“We know pathways to our 2030 target will vary among manufacturers and is heavily impacted by model cycles. Individual brands may not achieve improvements each year and may not meet the annual industry target.

“Today’s results are important, but what really matters is our end result in 2030.

“Regardless of individual outcomes, all brands should be commended for voluntarily signing up to this standard. It is a commitment to achieve better outcomes for Australian motorists, car-makers and our environment.”

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