Toyota is Europe's Cleanest Automaker, Fiat Close Behind

Toyota has released data from the European Commission showing that it has the lowest fleet-wide CO2 emissions average in Europe. While this fact might not be too surprising, what is more interesting is that Fiat, Citroen and Peugeot all follow close behind. Daimler AG had the worst average fleet emissions in Europe. These data were compiled in 2010 based on 65% of the maker's cleanest models. If you instead wanted to look at a makers entire model range, instead of just the 65% cleanest, Fiat would be the lowest emitting automaker in Europe, and Toyota would be in second.  

Toyota's fleet average comprises both Toyota and Lexus vehicles. In 2010, its average was 112.2g.km. The industry average 140g/km. 

The European Commission gives each automaker a target to reach for their emissions. Toyota's target was 128g/km of CO2, which it beat easily. In fact nearly every automaker surveyed beat its 2010 target. The exceptions were Skoda, Nissan and Daimler, which exceeded their targets. 

Some credit should be given to Fiat as well. Not only did it beat its target and still have the second lowest average fleet emissions in Europe, but it also sold 32% more vehicles than Toyota. 

The European Commission also looked at the average emissions across the makers' entire fleets. It found that Fiat was the cleanest in Europe with an average of 125g/km of CO2. Toyota came in second with an average of 131g/km of CO2. 

No auto maker met its emission target for its entire fleet. Although, Toyota came the closest. It was just 1g/km of CO2 off of its target. Fiat was nearly 6g/km of CO2 off of its target. 

The European Commission will use these data to create future emissions standards for European automakers. By 2015, the European Commission wants to have every European automaker below 130g/km of CO2 for its entire fleet. Currently just two meet that standard: Toyota and Fiat. Although, Citroen and Peugeot are just 1g/km of CO2 away from meeting the 130g/km standard. 

If you care to read the entire report, you can download it here