NTC report: New car purchases are more fuel efficient, but Australian consumer preferences are changing

Average vehicle emission intensity of new cars bought in Australia has dropped for a ninth year in a row but fewer Australians are choosing low emissions cars, according to a report released by the National Transport Commission (NTC) in Australia.

Chief Executive of the NTC Paul Retter said there had been a 28% reduction in average emissions intensity since 2002, with the average new car sold last year emitting a reported 182 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre travelled. This is a reduction of 1.1% compared to 2015.

“Every year since 2002 the average emission intensity figures have fallen, however this year’s result is the equal smallest drop on record,” Retter said.

“This is partly because of changing consumer preferences and buying patterns, with over 32,000 more SUVs and 15,000 more utes sold last year when compared to 2015.”

Retter said if all Australians who purchased a new car last year had bought the most efficient car available then the national average CO2 emission intensity figure would have dropped to 75 grams per kilometre travelled – a reduction of 59%.

The NTC’s Carbon Emissions Intensity for New Australian Light Vehicles 2016 report uses data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries to report on the carbon emissions intensity of passenger and light commercial vehicles sold in Australia.