Austria: average CO₂-emissions of new cars 2010-2020

Average CO₂ emissions of new cars in Austria declined between 2010 and 2016 before climbing again slightly until 2019. These emissions dropped significantly in 2020, due to transportation limitations at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and average emissions of newly registered vehicles in Austria have been falling considerably over the past decade. The average emissions of new cars were 112.3 grams of CO₂ per kilometer in 2020, a 22 percent overall decrease since 2010.

Luxury car brands responsible for the highest emissions

The highest average emissions of newly registered vehicles can be found among luxury car brands. Average emissions for Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. – the make with the highest average emissions – was three times as high as the Austrian average. Meanwhile, the emissions from the VW-SAIC Pool, the most popular make in Austria in 2020, lay at 116.2 grams of CO₂ per kilometer, just above the average for all new cars. With 95.9 and 98.6 grams of CO₂ per kilometer, respectively, PSA Opel and KIA are at the lower end of the spectrum.

Do more EVs mean lower emissions?

Decreased average emissions from new vehicles have been driven by an increased uptake of electric vehicles as well as efficiency improvements in diesel and gasoline cars and a trend toward smaller vehicles. Despite average emissions per kilometer dropping, total emissions from passenger cars continued to increase from 2012 through 2019. This could potentially be explained by an increase in driving in Austria, which increased overall emissions from passenger cars until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, at which point emissions reduced significantly.