VW to Cut Vehicle Emissions 30% by 2015

Volkswagen has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from the cars it produces by 30 percent by 2015, against a 2006 baseline.

VW’s commitment is one of a raft of sustainability proposals that will see every new vehicle model generation be on average 10 to 15 percent more efficient than its predecessor, the company says.

Volkswagen company used the announcement to reiterate its already stated aim of reducing the environmental impacts of its factories by 25 percent by 2018, compared to 2010 levels. The target applies to the energy consumption, waste volumes, air-borne emissions, water consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of its plants.

VW is investing €62.4 billion ($82 billion) worldwide plus an additional €14 billion in China during the period to 2016 to help achieve the goals. Well over two thirds of this investment program will be spent directly or indirectly on ever more efficient vehicles, powertrains and technologies as well as on environmentally compatible production at group plants, VW says.

Ford also recently committed to environmental targets. The Detroit automaker committed to reducing its water usage per vehicle by 30 percent by 2015 against a 2009 baseline in January.