The report, which updates the preliminary data published earlier this year, tracks progress towards CO2 emission targets for new passenger cars and vans.

According to the EEA report Monitoring CO2 emissions from passenger cars and vans in 2014, the average emissions of a new car sold in 2014 were 123.4 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (g CO2/km), significantly below the 2015 target of 130 g CO2/km set for the EU as a whole. Similarly, EEA found that the average emissions from vans sold in 2014 were 169.1 g CO2/km, below the 2017 limit of 175 g CO2/km.

Compliance with the EU fleet average targets is verified against the specific emissions targets set for each car and van manufacturer. The report shows that almost all manufacturers achieved their individual emissions targets set for 2014.

EEA found that 12.5 million new passenger cars and 1.5 million vans were sold in 2014. Of these, diesel vehicles remained the most sold vehicles in Europe, constituting 53% of car sales and 97% of van sales. An average diesel car emitted 123.2 g CO2/km, just 2.5 g CO2/km less than an average petrol car.

Renault, Automobiles Peugeot, Automobiles Citroen and Toyota Motor Europe continue to produce most of the lowest-emitting cars.

Of the individual car manufacturers, Renault had the lowest average CO2 emissions (108 g CO2/km) for new passenger vehicles registered in 2014. Renault also had the highest percentage of vehicles with emissions below 95 g CO2/km (34%).

75% of Toyota passenger vehicle sales in Europe were petrol cars with very low average emissions (110 g CO2/km).

Nissan was found to have made the greatest improvement between 2013 and 2014. The average emissions from their passenger vehicles decreased by almost 16 g CO2/km. This good performance relates to an increased number of electric vehicles in the share of new cars sold, as well as sales of smaller vehicles and the improved performance of conventional vehicles.

Of the larger van manufacturers, the Dacia fleet was found to have the lowest average emissions (132 g CO2/km), followed by Peugeot (147 g CO2/km), Citroen (148 g CO2/km) and Renault (149 g CO2/km).