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Vehicle Emissions and Air Quality 

The automotive industry is committed to cutting tailpipe emissions – helping reduce the impact on climate change, but also on air quality. 

Average vehicle CO2 emissions have diminished drastically over the past 25 years, thanks to ongoing improvements in internal combustion engine technology, with reductions now accelerating as ever increasing numbers of zero emission battery electric vehicles reach the road, along with lower emission plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles. 

Alongside reducing CO2, manufacturers have been hugely successful in reducing emissions of NOx and PM2.5, which are associated with poorer air quality. Since 1999, there has been an almost 90% fall in air pollution emissions from road transport, which now accounts for just 10% of all PM2.5 emissions. 

Today’s Euro 6/VI engines are the cleanest in history, with particular benefits from their use in public transport and heavy goods vehicles. As a result, air quality has improved significantly, delivering clear, tangible results. For instance, several urban areas across the UK which were considering introducing Clean Air Zones have found that air quality has already improved so much through normal fleet renewal that there is no need to implement additional restrictions. 

Ultra Low Emission Zone
Air Quality Zones
Emissions Testing

All new vehicles must comply with regulations governing tailpipe emissions of NOx and PM2.5. Internal combustion engine vehicles manufactured today produce a fraction of the emissions of vehicles made 25 years ago, thanks to massive investment by manufacturers. 

All vehicles made and sold in the UK are subject to emissions testing via internationally accepted Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) and Real Driving Emissions (RDE). The standard is accepted by governments around the world 

WLTP+RDE is the only emissions testing regime that is internationally accepted, repeatable, and includes real-world driving conditions, meaning it provides a basis for comparing between vehicles fairly and accurately. 

Manufacturers are not permitted to make claims about vehicle mileage or emissions. By law, manufacturers only quote the results of WLTP+RDE for their vehicles. 

The industry also considers non-tailpipe emissions in their overall impact. Methodologies for measuring emissions from brakes and tyres are currently in development.