Improving efficiency and cutting carbon leads to US market share gains
Mon 10 September 2007
View all news
A report from Environmental Defense, a US think-tank, says that car companies which cut their fleet average CO2 emissions also took a larger share of the US car market. Over a 15-year period, Toyota and BMW both cut CO2 emissions and gained market share from less carbon-efficient competitors.
The report - 'Automaker's Corporate Carbon Burdens: Update for 1990-2005' - found that the two car makers defied a general trend of growing vehicle-related emissions — a trend led by General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler.
BMW cut CO2 emissions from its fleet by more than 12 percent while its U.S. sales increased fourfold. The company improved the fuel economy of many models but the biggest factor was the success of the Mini Cooper, which emits a quarter less CO2 and accounted for one-fifth of the company's 2005 new fleet sales.
Between 1990 and 2005, Toyota's market share grew by 7 points while its fleet's CO2 emissions were cut by 3 percent.
"The ability of Toyota and BMW to gain market share while cutting emissions is a clear example of innovative design paying off for the bottom line and the environment," John DeCicco, senior fellow for automotive strategies at Environmental Defense, said in a statement.
Related Links
< Back to news list