Mazda is one of Europe's leading brands in lowering the CO2 emissions of its cars, says a recent report by the European Federation for Transport and Environment [1].
The report is based on the EU car CO2 monitoring mechanism database for 2008. It analysed 14 major carmakers in Europe, and found that CO2 emissions had dropped by an average of 3.3 percent per vehicle. Mazda was far ahead of this figure, with a drop in CO2 emissions of 8.2 percent per car in 2008, just behind the top brand, BMW, which had an average drop of 10.2 percent.
This represents a CO2 reduction of the entire Mazda line-up in Europe from 172 g/km to 158 g/km, and is a further step in realising the goal of lowering CO2 emissions of Mazda's global line-up a further 23 percent by 2015.
This excellent result can be attributed to Mazda's 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom' strategy, which was introduced in 2007 and has since produced next-generation vehicles that are lighter than their predecessors, use less fuel and produce less CO2. Lightweight technology is also being applied to all newly-developed platforms that will be introduced from 2011.
Other technologies from this environmental focus include the new Mazda3 i-stop version with a stop/start system that saves up to 14 percent on fuel, and a next-generation 2.2-litre turbo diesel with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, which greatly reduces harmful NOx emissions.
