Toyota leads the pack to EU fuel efficiency goals

Japanese car makers are beating their rivals in the quest to reach European Union (EU) targets for improving fuel efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. According to official EU data, analyzed by green transport campaigners T&E, Toyota has been able to reduce the average carbon dioxide from its cars by 10% last year, more than five times the pace achieved last year by the previous leader, Germany’s BMW. Toyota’s average CO2 emissions in 2009 were 132 grams per km, putting it alongside Peugeot Citroen and Fiat as one of the car makers best-placed for complying with an EU target of 130 grams on average in 2015. “Three years ago the car industry said it could not deliver car CO2 targets on time but is now set to achieve them years ahead of schedule,” said T&E director Jos Dings. (November 4, 2010)