Press release - December 2, 2011
Brussels - The European car industry has been hit by infighting and has failed to agree a unified position on an upcoming EU law regarding vehicle emissions, claimed Greenpeace today. The chief executives of Europe’s biggest car companies gathered for a meeting to decide their lobbying position on the future of EU car efficiency standards this morning. But in a Brussels press conference they told reporters they could not reach an agreement.
Volkswagen has been stalling EU laws to reduce the impact cars have on the climate and make them more fuel efficient
Greenpeace climate campaigner Sara Ayech said: “The more progressive car companies must be furious with Volkswagen, who are dragging their feet and trying to stall. They have a chance to support this legislation which could cut the amount of oil our vehicles use and emissions they belch out. But if they continue to obstruct and delay then the industry will miss out on new innovation opportunities. And that’s going to be bad news for motorists at the pump, and for efforts to tackle climate change. Progressive car makers need to stand up to the likes of VW and get them to see sense.”
Greenpeace campaigners dressed in Star Wars Stormtrooper outfits were outside the car industry meeting today, carrying signs reading ‘car lobby meeting this way’. The Star Wars theme was adopted because Volkswagen used it in popular adverts. VW is at the centre of car industry opposition to European car efficiency measures. [1]
The European Commission is preparing a new piece of car efficiency legislation for 2012. This would reduce car emissions to a maximum of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2020. Volkswagen has described the 95g legislative target as “not based on sound impact assessment nor on a realistic appreciation of the costs and technical progress necessary to meet the goal within the timescale”. [2]
When a previous EU car efficiency law was being prepared, carmakers lobbied hard to delay and weaken the standards, and yet time has shown that most of their alarmist claims were not borne out in reality. In fact, many companies will meet the legal requirements even earlier than they have to. [3]
Greenpeace argues carmakers can and should develop car fleets that on average emit no more than 80g CO2/km by 2020. A further target of 60g CO2/km by 2025 should be set when the EU reviews fuel efficiency laws next year.
Ends
Contacts
Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Sara Ayech +44 7986 075829
Greenpeace Germany energy campaigner Christoph von Lieven +49 1718 780802
Greenpeace EU press officer Jack Hunter +32 4769 88584 
Pictures / video
For pictures of today’s action, available around lunchtime, call Angela Glienicke +44 20 7865 8294 
For video via FTP download, available around lunchtime, call Marge Glynn +44 207 865 8122
Notes
[1] See Greenpeace report The Dark Side of Volkswagen at www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2011/The-Dark-Side-of-Volkswagen
[2] Quote from a letter to Greenpeace, 14 June 2010.
[3] See Greenpeace briefing Claims versus reality: How the European car lobby proved itself wrong at www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2011/car-myths/
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.