The findings come ahead of the launch of JATO’s latest report – A Review of CO2 New Car Emissions across Europe 2012 – which covers 23 European markets and shows that nine high-volume manufacturer brands have already achieved the 130g/km European target set for 2015.

Fiat remained the lowest-emitting volume brand in Europe for the sixth consecutive year, with an average CO2 emission level of 119.8g/km despite a slight increase in emissions in 2012 compared to 2011. This was due to significantly reduced sales of the B-segment Punto and increased sales of the Freemont large crossover.  A slight shift in sales from diesel to LPG and CNG also contributed to the increase.

Peugeot climbed from fifth to second place, with an average CO2 level of 121.2g/km in 2012, whilst Renault is a close third, up from sixth place last year, with an average CO2 level of 121.3 g/km in 2012.

Top 20 best-selling brands ranked by average CO2 emissions

(volume weighted)

Looking at the performance of the various European markets, with the exception of Belgium, all other European countries reduced their average CO2 emissions compared to 2011. Despite average CO2 emissions increasing slightly in Belgium, by 0.1g/km, they remained below the 130g/km mark, at 127.6g/km.

Portugal remains the least polluting country in Europe, whilst Greece recorded the greatest reduction in CO2 emissions of all the European countries in 2012, largely due to an increase of diesel market share in Greece to 40%, from just over 10% in 2011. Until November 2011, with the exception of taxis, diesel cars were banned from Greece’s largest cities.

In terms of reducing average CO2 emissions, Denmark came in second place, with a reduction in average emissions of 9.3g/km compared to 2011. This was largely due to the increasing market share of A-segment in Denmark in 2012, becoming the largest segment as sales of medium and large cars fell.

Despite reducing its average CO2 emissions by 3.6g/km in 2012, Switzerland remains the highest polluting country in Europe, and the only one with average emissions over 150g/km.

Spain succeeded in bringing its country average emissions down to 128.3g/km, joining France and Italy to become the third of the “Big Five” markets to move below the 130 g/km mark. In 2012, France reduced its country average emissions by 3.6g/km to 124.0g/km, whilst Italy reduced them by 3.7g/km to 126.0g/km.

Despite bringing down emissions from 145.6g/km in 2011 to 141.1g/km in 2012, Germany still remains behind most of its European counterparts.

In summary Gareth Hession commented: ‘With the exception of Belgium, every country in Europe reduced its average CO2 emissions in 2012, which was accelerated in some countries by an increase of diesel market share, as well as economic conditions and government incentives continuing to play their part. However, there continues to be significant variation between countries and the gap between them is actually widening.’

‘With the European Union’s manufacturer targets looming, it will be interesting to see if the regional variation starts to level out over the next 12 months,’ Mr Hession concluded.