Briefing

Manipulation of fuel economy test results by carmakers: new evidence and solutions

May 28, 2013

A growing body of evidence shows the current test used to measure car fuel efficiency is outdated, unrepresentative of real-world driving and lax enough to allow carmakers to systematically manipulate official test results at the expense of consumers’ trust.

European institutions are presently finalising a regulation to lower CO₂ emissions from cars and vans in 2020. This has stimulated intense debate when and how a new official test should be introduced. This briefing informs this debate in the light of new evidence from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) that for the first time compares progress in official and real-world vehicle fuel efficiency on a brand-by-brand basis.

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Press Release

Accepting US car standards would risk European lives, warn cities and civil society

European cities and civil society groups have warned that accepting lower US car standards will see more dangerous vehicles flood into Europe

October 20, 2025

Press Release

Plug-in hybrids pollute almost as much as petrol cars – EU data

Even in electric mode, PHEVs still burn fuel and emit 68g of CO2/km, on average. Their hidden fuel consumption costs the average PHEV driver €500 extr...

October 16, 2025