Automakers

How automakers plan to avoid CO2 fines in Europe

The VW ID3 is expected to be the pacesetter for mass acceptance of full-electric vehicles in Europe. Its development was supported by billions of euros of investment. (Wolfgang Rattay/REUTERS)
January 06, 2020 08:04 AM

For Europe's automakers, a great leap into the unknown began on New Year's Day, when European Union emissions standards that require a fleet average of 95 grams per kilometer of CO2 took effect. The numbers are stark. According to the EU, fleet emissions in 2018 were 120g/km, which means automakers need a 21 percent reduction overall to avoid fines that could total as much as 33 billion euros this year, according to some estimates. Each gram over the limit, per vehicle, will cost automakers 95 euros.

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