France wants to give carmakers more time to meet CO2 targets

What MEPs voted for

• Setting a target of 130 grams of CO2 per km from 2012; an extra 10g of savings are to come from more fuel efficient tyres, air conditioning and greener fuels.
• Setting a long-term CO2 reduction target of 95g/CO2 per km by 2020. The Commission should make a proposal by the end of 2014.
• Fines for missing the target should be phased in: starting at €20 per gram in excess of the target, rising to €95 in 2015.
• Carmakers can apply for special credits for using “eco-innovations”.
• Calculating the CO2 equation according to the mass of the car, but MEPs called on the Commission to study alternatives, such as footprint (track width multiplied by wheel base).
• Changing the legal basis of the law so that it falls under environment rules (article 175 of the EC treaty) rather than internal market rules (article 95)