The report on “Monitoring CO2 emissions from passenger cars and vans in 2013” presents final data for both vehicle types, updating preliminary data published earlier this year.

The report shows that the average passenger car sold in 2013 emitted 126.7g/km, already below the legal threshold of 130g/km to be fully reached by 2015.

Meanwhile, the average van sold must have emissions below 175g/km by 2017, but levels were already at 173.3g/km last year, according to the updated data from manufacturers and Member States.

However, the EEA added that while both fleets overall are making progress in reducing emission levels, the picture is more mixed when manufacturers are considered individually. Each manufacturer has an individual emissions target, based on the average mass of the vehicles they sell.

Of the 84 car manufacturers in Europe, 55 met their individual specific emissions targets in 2013. These manufacturers represent 99 % of all registrations.

Of the individual car manufacturers, Renault had the lowest average CO2 emissions (110g/km) for new passenger vehicles registered in 2013. Renault, Toyota, Peugeot and Citroen continue to produce most of the lowest-emitting cars.

Meanwhile almost all van manufacturers that registered more than 10 000 vehicles met their specific emissions targets for 2013.

Of the larger van manufacturers, the Renault fleet had the lowest average emissions, followed by Dacia, Peugeot and Citroen.

The report also lends weight to the growing concern that the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test is not representative of “real world” driving conditions.

A comparison of the reported test cycle CO2 emissions with estimated real world emissions found that real-world driving conditions might lead to emissions around a fifth higher on average. The difference may be up to a third higher for larger cars, the report shows.