A new report has criticised European car manufacturers for failing to introduce sufficient measures to reduce emissions in their vehicles.

Commissioned by environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E), the research claims that only a quarter of Europe's top 20 manufacturers have introduced changes which make them likely to meet standards set by the European Union.

Voluntary targets set by the EU require manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions from vehicles to 140 grams per kilometre by 2008, before lowering the bar to 120 grams by 2012.

But the study states that Fiat, Citroen, Renault, Ford and Peugeot are currently the only five companies in Europe's top 20 car makers which are on target to reduce exhaust emissions by the required amount. Of those, only Fiat has managed to reach the goal for 2008.

Although the targets are at present voluntary, the European Commission has warned that it will seek to impose legislative duties on the automotive industry in relation to the emissions produced by vehicles if automakers fail to take significant measures themselves.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd