Software issues delayed the ID.3 which did not help.
VW has already set aside hundreds of millions of euros for this.
2020 fleet emissions need to be 95 g/km.
The European Union put forth a plan to reduce CO2 emissions some years ago. The goal is to reduce the overall emissions of a manufacturer’s fleet of new vehicles. Volkswagen, which sells SUVs, cars, trucks, and EVs, was hoping to reach the imposed target for 2020 however will narrowly miss and need to pay fines.
The target set by the EU for 2020 is a fleet average of 95 g/km. This allows a carmaker to sell higher CO2 emitting vehicles as long as they are offset by lower- or zero-emission vehicles. According to Automotive News Europe (subscription required), average emissions in 2019 were of 122.4 g/km. This helps explain why many automakers have missed their targets for 2020.
Volkswagen ID.3 | Photo: Volkswagen
Volkswagen hoped to be ready for 2020 with the launch of the ID.3 however software issues delayed the car’s introduction. “VW CEO Herbert Diess said the automaker will be within only “a gram or so” of its EU target.”
Volkswagen has decided to pool its fleet MG Motor, a subsidiary of VW’s Chinese joint venture partner SAIC. The arrangement will reduce the German car company’s fleet average by only 0.3 g/km.
As for 2021, VW CFO Frank Witter said that “the automaker was “quite comfortable” about compliance next year and in the longer term for the European market.”
In the last few days alone, we reported that Honda was combining its fleet with that of Tesla and FCA and that Ford joined Volvo’s fleet to avoid paying fines.
Volkswagen ID.4 | Photo: Volkswagen
