German automotive giant Volkswagen announced this week that it has exceeded its mandated European Union fleet targets for 2021, coming in under manufacturer-specific targets for both the company’s Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand as well as the larger Volkswagen Group.
According to Volkswagen’s own preliminary figures – yet to be confirmed by the European Union’s Commission (EU Commission) – Volkswagen Passenger Cars, the company’s original marque, achieved average CO2 emissions of 113 grams of CO2 per-kilogram (g CO2/km) – below the target assigned by the EU Commission of 119 g CO2/km.
Volkswagen said its Passenger Cars division produced approximately 5.5 million grams fewer CO2 than required by law.
Volkswagen Group – which includes the VW brand along with Audi, Porsche, Škoda, and Seat –also exceeded its company-specific mandated target, averaging CO2 emissions of 118.5 g CO2/km, around 2% below the legal target of 120.8 g CO2/km.
The successful 2021 follows its failure to meet its EU mandated CO2 target in 2020, which it missed by around 0.8 g CO2/km and coste it a fine of over €100 million.
Measuring average CO2 emissions also changed between 2020 and 2021, with the EU moving from the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) calculation which it has used previously to the more accurate Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), which means that comparing 2020 and 2021 average CO2 emissions figures becomes very tricky.
In both instances, however, Volkswagen identified the increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as key for delivering its CO2 target milestones.
Volkswagen said it delivered 472,300 electrified vehicles across the European Union (and including Norway and Iceland), an increase of 64% over 2020. The proportion of BEVs and PHEVs rose to 17.2% of total vehicle deliveries, up from the 10.1% recorded in 2020.
“Our Group-wide electric offensive picked up significant speed last year with many attractive new models,” said Christian Dahlheim, head of Volkswagen Group sales.
“Nearly one in five vehicles delivered in Europe was electrified, and more than half of these were all-electric. This helped us to further reduce CO2 fleet emissions and fulfil the EU target. We were also able to inspire many new customers for e-mobility.
“As part of our New Auto strategy, we will continue to consistently drive forward the electrification of our portfolio in the coming years. In 2030, we plan a share of all-electric vehicles of 60 percent in Europe.”
For Volkswagen Passenger Cars specifically, the brand delivered over 369,000 electric cars, a 73% increase on 2020 and including approximately 106,000 PHEVs and 263,000 BEVs.
“By significantly exceeding our CO2 targets once again, we have demonstrated our fast and systematic approach to sustainability and the transformation towards e-mobility through our Accelerate strategy,” said Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen CEO.
Worth noting at the end of it all, however, is that Volkswagen met its manufacturer-specific targets as mandated by the EU Commission. This does not mean, though, that the company exceeded the wider EU fleet-wide CO2 emission target average for 2020-2024.
According to the EU Commission, the EU fleet-wide CO2 emission target for passenger vehicles for the years 2020 to 2024 was set at 95 g CO2/km – though that number is under the NEDC emission test procedure, and according to The International Council on Clean Transportation (PDF) works out to be around 109 g CO2/km under WLTP calculations.
Clarifying the different interpretation of numbers between what the EU Commission has mandated and Volkswagen’s own numbers, a Volkswagen Group spokesperson explained via email that “EU fleet targets are always manufacturer specific” and “depend among other things on the weight of the vehicles sold.”
Read more: “Luxo-barges” and cheap ICE: How global chip shortage is accelerating shift to EVs
This means that the 95 g CO2/km (NEDC) is an industry average, and that all manufacturers have their own specific targets assigned based on a number of variables.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.