Hyundai-Kia Deemed America’s “Greenest” Carmaker

Hyundai and its Kia affiliate have outscored Honda to become America's lowest emitter of global warming gases, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Union of Concerned Scientists.

The UCS says the 2013 results mark the first time all eight of the carmakers it tracks achieved average emissions below the levels it calculated in its first such survey in 1998 (chart).

The group estimates average new-car emissions last year were 43% lower than 15 years ago. It pegs last year's industry average of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions at 461 g/mi. Company averages range from 395 g/mi for Hyundai/Kia to 537 g/mi for Chrysler. The figures include emissions from producing and distributing fuel used by each fleet in addition to actual tailpipe emissions.

UCS praises Hyundai-Kia for across-the-board improvements in the efficiency of all vehicles in its fleet. It says Honda was hurt last year by its midsize models, which account for about 25% of sales and lag the industry average.

Toyota outperforms the industry in midsize and large cars, but the rest of its models achieve only industry average emissions, according to the analysis. UCS says Ford has made the biggest improvements since the group began calculating emission averages and is "pulling away" from its domestic rivals.

The analysis says GM is at a "tipping point" where improvements in its small-car emissions could bring it into alignment with the industry average. UCS describes Chrysler as the least improved carmaker over the past decade, complaining the company "simply does not appear to be focusing on its environmental footprint."