Since 2012, Stellantis has had highest CO2/mile
Hyundai becomes best-scoring combustion car-maker
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has just published its 2023 Automotive Trends report. The analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy shows a new best automaker, but a familiar name at the bottom of the list.
Much of the data covers model year 2022. The EPA estimates that real-world CO2 emissions from MY 2022 vehicles fell to 337 grams per mile, the lowest it has ever been. Real-world fuel economy is up 0.6 miles per gallon to 26.0 mpg.
Tesla, with tailpipe CO2 of zero, is at the top of the list. For companies that build gas cars, Hyundai has taken the top spot away from Honda.
Hyundai lowered its total CO2 to 302 g/mi and improved fuel economy from 28.6 mpg to 29.1. Honda, which had been in the top spot for several years, fell from 29.4 to 28.7 mpg and from 302 to 309 g/mi. Mazda, which had been just behind Honda, also fell. From 306 g/mi to 328. The reason the two climbed, is, of course, because they sold more larger crossovers, while Hyundai added hybrid and PHEV models.
Stellantis had the highest emissions and the lowest fuel economy. The automaker did improve slightly, but at 415 g/mi was still far behind even GM (406) and Ford (388). Its fuel economy was 21.3 mpg, behind 22.0 and 22.0 for those companies.
Stellantis has been at the bottom of the list every year since 2012. Stellantis sells no small cars, and the majority of its models are offered with V8 engines. While Ford and GM sell more pickups, Stellantis offers larger crossovers and SUVs, not the smaller and more efficient vehicles that would help lower its figure.
The EPA’s report focuses on large automakers, those which produced more than 150,000 vehicles in the model years in question.
