UK surpass pan-European 2015 emission targets

The average car emissions have dropped by 30 per cent since 2000 in the UK and are now below the EU's target level for 2015 as manufacturers step up production of fuel efficient vehicles.

Figures showed average new car emissions stood at 128.3 grams of CO2 per kilometre in 2013, a 3.6 per cent drop from the previous year.

Published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) yesterday

The improvement brings the UK closer towards the 2020 goal of 95g/km, surpassing the pan-European 130g/km target for 2015 although manufacturers may have an extra year to reach this target following an EU vote last month.

Although the UK is far behind other EU countries like Denmark and Portugal, both of which averages below 120g/km in 2012, they have beaten Germany, the EU's largest market, which posted the highest average auto emissions of 141.5g/km in 2012.

As the market for lower emissions vehicles grows, More than 63 per cent of new car registrations met the 130g/km goal, while over three per cent of the UK market is already below the 96g/km mark.

The UK has also invested in a new Advanced Propulsion Centre, which is expected to generate over £1bn into the development of low-carbon technologies, and hosts European production of the Nissan LEAF at Sunderland.