Volvo top CO2 emission reductions for Europe
Whilst Europe’s eight largest carmakers reduced their emissions by between two and six percent in 2010, Volvo’s cutback of nine percent led the way in the car industry.
Volvo President and CEO Stefan Jacoby expressed his satisfaction at the reports, stating "We are delighted and very proud of this result. We are following our ambitious plan which puts the spotlight on cutting carbon dioxide emissions."
Volvo’s record emission numbers comes on the back of their DRIVe campaign, launched in 2008 as the symbol of the brand’s environmental commitment. In 2009 their S40 model, part of the DRIVe range, was awarded Green Car of the Year by What Car? Magazine.
The brand’s CO2 strategy also incorporated electrified cars with varying degrees of hybridisation, more efficient diesel and petrol engines and alternative fuels.
"The aim is to come down to an average of 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre across our total car sales in 2020,” said Volvo Senior Vice President Research and Development Peter Mertens. “In theory that is entirely feasible, but a lot depends on developments in legislation, incentives, energy availability and of course customer demand. In addition, the EU intends to introduce a new method for calculating carbon dioxide, and this too will impact our plan."