Europe’s Carmakers Offer to Cut CO2 Emissions 20% by 2030

European carmakers have offered to reduce their carbon dioxide emission limit by another 20%— but not until 2030 and only if consumers embrace electric cars.

The plan is being presented through industry group ACEA ahead of the next round of CO₂ reductions being considered by the European Commission. The EC’s targets are due late this year.

European manufacturers currently are committed to meeting an average CO₂ limit of 95 grams per kilometer for their fleets by 2021, down from an actual average of 199.6 g/km achieved last year. The new proposal would drop that cap to 76 g/km by 2030.

Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche, this year’s ACEA president, says the group hasn’t yet decided what level of EV sales would be needed to make the proposed 76-gram limit feasible. ACEA estimates EVs currently account for about 1% of new-car sales in Europe.

Zetsche also emphasizes that diesels must continue to be a key element in achieving future CO₂ targets. He urges EU members to adopt a technology-neutral approach to reducing vehicle emissions. He cites the need to resolve the current “chaos” being caused by pending city- and country-level bans on diesels or piston engines in general.