Major automakers have expressed their confidence that they will be able to cut emissions in half by 2050 in light of recommendations made by four international agencies, the BBC reported yesterday (4th March).

The '50 by 50' strategy has been championed by the UN Environment Programme, the International Energy Agency, the International Transport Forum and the FIA Foundation.

With the number of cars in the world set to triple by the time 2050 arrives, industry executives were bullish about meeting the targets when questioned at this week's Geneva Motor Show.

Ian Robertson, board member for marketing at BMW Group and Chairman of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, told the news provider: "This industry has a capacity of being very innovative when it needs to be.

"I think we can do an awful lot. There are more than enough chances for the industry to aspire to the challenge and we as a company are intent on doing that."

Mr Robertson noted that the V8 engine in the BMW 7-series executive model is ten per cent cleaner than the previous V8 incarnation, while retaining the performance of the previous V12.

Furthermore, he explained that the innovation shown by large automakers in relation to fuel-efficient engines tends to be shared and spread throughout the industry at a rapid pace.

Those views were echoed by Toyota Motor Europe Executive Graham Smith, who pointed out that the company's average CO2 emissions could drop to 95g by 2020 as it is already ahead of the competition.

"By the time we've gone to 95, we've gone quite a long way towards the '50 by 50' target," he said in an interview with the BBC.



Source:

Car firms told to halve emissions (04/03/09)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7924080.stm