Skip advert
Advertisement

CO2 emissions from UK car production have halved since 1999

The ‘per vehicle’ figures for energy and water use, plus C02 emissions, all show dramatic falls as the UK car industry cleans up its act

Nissan Sunderland

Manufacturing your new car uses roughly the same amount of energy as the average household uses in electricity every year, data from the Society of Manufacturers and Traders has revealed.

Figures from the 2023 SMMT Automotive Sustainability Report show that it now takes 2.6 MegaWatt hours of energy to produce a single vehicle in the UK, compared to 3.9mWh in 1999. According to Ofgem, a medium-use household typically consumes around 2.9mWh of electricity annually - or 2,900kWh - in addition to typical domestic gas consumption of 12,000kWh.

The SMMT’s annual look at sustainability matters picks out 1999 as a benchmark, because C02 production during vehicle manufacturing has dropped 50 per cent - in 1999 C02 emitted during production was 1.1 tonnes per vehicle, but it has now fallen to 0.5 tonnes. Total C02 output from manufacturing has dropped by an initially dramatic 72 per cent since 1999, but the scale of the UK’s manufacturing output has fallen too - in 1999 the UK built close to 2 million vehicles (cars and commercials), but that figure only just topped 1 million last year. Other notable ‘per vehicle’ emissions improvements include a 53 per cent drop in the production of Volatile Organic Compounds.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Sustainability Report also includes information on the social and economic impact of the automotive industry in the UK, and it’s notable that while vehicle production has halved since 1999, the number of people the SMMT calculates as relying on the automotive industry for income has dropped far less - from 907,000 to 793,000. Meanwhile, the number of people employed directly by the industry has dropped from 95,214 to 82,111, it says.

The SMMT says its report signposts the role automotive can play in the new Labour government’s plan for green growth. “We look forward to working with the new government to deliver its green growth agenda that puts Britain at the front of the queue for global investment and sustainability leadership,” says SMMT chief exec Mike Hawes. “Automotive can be the driving force behind this strategy, reducing carbon emissions still further while growing the economy, improving air quality and delivering new jobs and skills for people across the country.”

Subscribe to the UK's favourite car magazine: get Auto Express delivered every week...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028
Nissan Leaf - front cornering

Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028

The industry is in a race to bring solid-state to the market, and Nissan isn’t too far behind the leaders
News
17 Jun 2025
Hydrogen filling stations needed as UK urged to follow Europe’s lead
BMW iX5 Hydrogen - fill up

Hydrogen filling stations needed as UK urged to follow Europe’s lead

Manufacturers believe the UK’s lack of hydrogen filling stations could negatively effect the transport sector
News
8 Jun 2025
Electric car batteries: all about EV battery tech present and future
BMW solid state battery

Electric car batteries: all about EV battery tech present and future

Batteries are the most complex part of an electric car, but how do they work?
News
27 May 2025
Solid-state batteries are almost here! BMW tests tech in i7 prototype
BMW i7 prototype with solid state battery - front 3/4

Solid-state batteries are almost here! BMW tests tech in i7 prototype

Company is well on the way to delivering groundbreaking tech, which has been developed in collaboration with technical partner Solid Power
News
22 May 2025

Most Popular

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo EM90 - front

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer

Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it’s for China only
Road tests
16 Jun 2025
New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
Peugeot E-208 GTi - reveal front

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power

Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds
News
13 Jun 2025
Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival
Smart Roadster exclusive image

Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival

The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
16 Jun 2025