Provisional data published by the European Environment Agency shows the average CO2 emissions of new cars registered in Europe in 2022 were 27% below 2019 levels, due to the stricter emission targets that came into force in 2020. Vans have seen a similar downward trend with average CO2 emissions 9% below 2019 levels.
The main reason for this decrease was a surge in electric cars registered, reaching a share of 23% of the new car market (19% in 2021), with 13.4% being fully electric. Steady progress was made in the electrification of vans, with the market share of fully electric vans increasing from 3.4% in 2021 to 6% in 2022.
The year-on-year progress in reducing the CO2 emissions of new vehicles was spurred by the stricter targets that have applied since 2020. It is crucial for the emission reductions from these vehicles to continue to accelerate to deliver the targets set out in the revised CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans, as well as the 2050 climate-neutrality objective of the EU.