New data from JATO Dynamics finds that average CO2 emissions from new cars across Europe fell to 123.3g/km in 2014, a 3.5g/km improvement over 2013. 

All 23 markets covered by JATO’s investigation recorded a reduction in average CO2 emissions. The Netherlands, which introduced a revised tax regime to encourage the purchase of low-CO2 vehicles in 2013, recorded the lowest average emissions in 2014 at 106.8g/km, but also the smallest reduction compared to the previous year of only 2.1g/km. 

By contrast, Norway, which has put various incentives in place to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, saw the greatest reduction in average emissions, with a fall of 12.8g/km to 110.4g/km. These incentives led to pure electric vehicles taking a 12.4% share Norway’s new car market in 2014, compared to 0.45% across Europe. 

Greece and Portugal joined the Netherlands in recording average CO2 emissions below 110g/km, while ten of the 23 markets recorded average emissions below 120g/km. 

Of the markets studied, only Switzerland recorded average CO2 emissions over 140g/km, but the trend suggests the country should record an average below this threshold in 2015. 

Amongst the top 20 best-selling volume carmakers, Renault claimed the lowest average CO2 emissions among volume brands in Europe for the second year in a row at 108.4g/km, a 1.8g/km improvement over 2013. Although Renault increased sales of its electric cars, particularly the ZOE, to almost 11,000 units, its performance is down to the impressively low emissions of the 0.9 litre turbo petrol and 1.5 litre turbo diesel versions of the Clio and Captur, and 1.5 litre diesel versions of the Mégane. 

Peugeot maintained second place with 109.4g/km. The brand’s 108 and 208 small cars recorded the low emissions expected of such vehicles, but the standout performance was the reduction to 102.5g/km of the new C-Segment 308 model. 

Citroën claimed third place with 111.4g/km, buoyed by improvements to the brand’s performance coming from new 1.2 litre turbo petrol engines in the C4 model, the new 2nd generation of the C1, and strong sales of the new C4 Cactus model at an average of 96.9g/km. 

Toyota fell one place to fourth with an average of 112.5g/km, Hybrid versions now accounting for over half of Auris sales and over a third of Yaris sales. 

Nissan recorded the greatest improvement in emissions of the volumes brands, down 15.4g/km to an average of 113.8g/km to claim fifth place in the table. This performance was driven by a raft of new models, including the Qashqai, Pulsar, Note and X-trail, all including improved powertrains, which also benefitted the facelift Juke crossover.