A majority of Australia’s car brands failed to hit their voluntary specific CO2 emissions targets in 2021, though passenger vehicles as a whole are ahead of the reduction curve.

    The average listed CO2 emissions of vehicles belonging to the scheme’s so-called MA category (passenger vehicles and so-called light-duty SUVs) was 146.5 grams per kilometre, down from 149.5g/km in 2020 and ahead of the specific 2021 target average of 150g/km.

    But vehicles in the MC+NA category (light commercials and heavy SUVs) missed their target by a big margin, averaging 212.5g/km against a target of 193g/km. On the positive side, the average for 2021 did fall from 2020’s average of 216.7g/km.

    However, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which oversees the brands’ self-imposed scheme, says it’s the final 2030 emissions target that matters, with annual inconsistencies on the way to be expected.

    The FCAI’s targeted reduction between 2020 and 2030 is to get MA vehicles down to 100g/km and MC+NA vehicles to 145g/km. It says brands will progress at different rates, depending on their model cycles, and the lack of legal teeth means this will remain a factor.

    The FCAI is the peak body for the car-makers, and really has its own progressive and self-imposed CO2 reduction targets in place to set a template – because it wants the government to enforce just such a scheme with penalties, and thereby incentivise brand head offices overseas to send more low-emission vehicles our way.

    “If we don’t have that legislation in the market, then they’re [HQ in Europe] going to prioritise the markets that have got it, to avoid very significant fines. It changes the game completely, it really does,” Volkswagen Group Australia chief Paul Sansom told CarExpert recently.

    MORE: Australian car industry keeps calling for new government-backed CO2 targets

    Market-leader Toyota led the field in the passenger car and light SUV category thanks to its hybrid dominance, but failed to comply with its 2021 target when it came to its heavy 4x4s and commercials.

    The annual FCAI emissions report collates each member brand’s CO2 outputs on a complicated sales-weighted average mass per unit basis, with various full-forward credits outlined in the methodology explaining why the average output per car looks lower than what the ADR claims suggest.

    For example, Toyota’s overall market-leading MA category CO2 average per vehicle of 96.7g/km would suggest it sold entirely Corolla Hybrids, ignoring the thirstier models it offered too.

    If you want the full detail on how the scheme is created and measured, this deep-dive here should help. It’s quite a challenging read…

    The FCAI counters by saying the complex mathematical measurements are designed to be broadly similar in method to those used by the European Environment Agency, as well as the scheme used in the USA – though lower EV take-up here means the actual targets are higher.

    These targets are in no way legally binding or enforceable anywhere beyond the court of public opinion, until there’s actual legislation around them.

    “Globally automotive manufacturers continue to spend billions of dollars on reducing the environmental impact of their vehicles. In the absence of a federally led emissions reduction target, FCAI members have signed up to this Standard to support the introduction of the cleanest technologies to Australia’s road,” said FCAI CEO Tony Weber.

    MA category

    BrandSalesAverage CO2Target
    Alfa Romeo617145.554153.163
    Alpine28146.000120.487
    Audi15,810157.710163.355
    BMW19,827160.665163.785
    Chrysler168300.478194.817
    Citroen180142.128134.075
    Ferrari189254.676162.219
    Fiat736115.368112.697
    Ford9718192.314158.428
    Genesis734238.77191.735
    GWM9676185.493150.752
    Honda17,563159.856146.030
    Hyundai69,815163.696145.677
    Isuzu Ute2789209.370193.538
    Jaguar1221164.746175.244
    Jeep821201.379164.639
    Kia67,694159.682148.027
    Lamborghini131328.931177.965
    Land Rover2409191.278183.806
    LDV1597254.944200.536
    Lexus8990135.306175.271
    Maserati560240.132192.71
    Mazda82,711155.713151.803
    Mercedes-Benz Cars27,807165.205177.484
    Mercedes-Benz Vans588158.378224.029
    MG39,534143.662136.392
    Mini3541105.524139.885
    Mitsubishi37,670160.094147.28
    Nissan22,524166.354151.124
    Peugeot2258144.096141.531
    Porsche3599136.107179.619
    Renault2892175.398151.002
    Skoda9172141.168147.925
    SsangYong353177.008150.131
    Subaru14,769162.575148.656
    Suzuki14,612125.465115.582
    Toyota100,44896.731151.871
    Volkswagen29,623144.741151.701
    Volvo Car5671132.073179.433
    Green text symbolises a brand is ahead of target

    MC+NA category

    BrandSalesAverage CO2Target
    Audi192173.682205.799
    BMW5,049170.970174.865
    Chevrolet2108297.000233.134
    Ford60,234211.617209.358
    GWM8697243.756193.987
    Hyundai3057219.348189.711
    Isuzu Ute32,927207.868193.980
    Jeep6883224.546204.980
    Land Rover4044207.342212.856
    LDV11,607244.053191.524
    Lexus300301.516249.392
    Mazda18,408205.417189.806
    Mercedes-Benz Cars594295.143237.707
    Mercedes-Benz Vans1017174.678194.857
    Mitsubishi30,067219.770190.520
    Nissan18,279228.443206.865
    Peugeot516150.456159.365
    Porsche833185.960202.242
    Ram3819278.683239.659
    Renault2825164.525167.485
    SsangYong2628226.615206.646
    Subaru22,252156.066165.422
    Suzuki2856151.996124.942
    Toyota120,517216.544204.911
    Volkswagen10,078223.061188.446
    Volvo Car3357169.435179.900

    MORE: Emissions targets explained: Q&A with FCAI chief executive Tony Weber

    Mike Costello
    Mike Costello is a Senior Contributor at CarExpert.
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