Automobilindustrie fordert mehr Geld zur Einhaltung der CO2-Ziele[en] 

As part of the overall climate deal package endorsed yesterday (17 December), the Parliament rubberstamped a deal on phasing in, as of 2012, a 18% emissions cut for new cars sold in the EU. 

The deal is to limit CO2 emissions to 120 g/km for the whole car industry by 2012. Manufacturers will be given interim targets of ensuring that average CO2 emissions of 65% of their fleets in January 2012, 75% in January 2013, 80% in January 2014 and 100% from 2015 comply with each manufacturer's specific CO2 emissions target.

Carmakers in breach of these limits will face gradually increasing fines per exceeded gramme of CO2 (€95 as of 2019).

The European Commission's original proposal foresaw the introduction of the the cap on all new cars sold in the region in 2012, with tougher fines from an earlier period.

The deal also introduces a long-term 2020 target for new cars, requiring average emissions of 95g CO2/km. 

The emission reductions are expecetd to come from improved vehicle technology and improvements in other areas, including tyres, fuels, air-conditioning and eco-driving. 

The European automotive industry described the sealed deal as "an extremely tough piece of legislation," but welcomed the "essential flexibility" given to it to adjust its development and production cycles to the legal requirements. 

However, according to Christian Streiff, president of the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA), "the penalty of €95 per excess gramme of CO2 remains extremely high compared to the price of CO2 in other sectors". 

ACEA also underlined that the long-term CO2 reduction target requires "technological breakthroughs, new refueling infrastructure and a swift renewal of the car fleet on Europe's roads". 

The day before the vote, the European Investment Bank announced its 2009-2011 funding plan, which is set to allocate some €16 billion additional lending for clean transport facility for the automotive and other transport industries, their equipment manufacturers and component suppliers.

"The industry reiterates its call for €40 billion in low-interest loans," said Ivan Hodac, secretary-general of ACEA. 

He said the €16 billion of EIB money and the Commission's economic stimulus package (EurActiv 27/11/08) were welcome steps but more would be required to help the capital- and engineering-intensive industry face the economic crisis and new regulatory challenges. 

In addition to R&D funds, the sector needs a functioning financial market and a range of market incentives to restore consumer demand, ACEA concluded.