Only One European automaker Has Achieved CO2 Emissions Targets

Strict European CO₂ targets are causing a major headache for many car manufacturers. Of all the European manufacturers, only one manages to stay below the maximum limit, and that very convincingly.

On average, car manufacturers must stay below a maximum average of 93.6 grams of CO₂ per kilometer this year. This is the average per car sold, not per car offered.

In practice, this means that the sale of fully electric cars is to some extent inevitable, because even a super-efficient hybrid like the Toyota Yaris Hybrid exceeds this limit in certain versions. Compensation, therefore, needs to be made, and fortunately, this can also be done outside of the company’s own offering. For years now, so-called ‘CO₂ pools’ have existed in Europe, in which pure EV brands like Tesla can sell ‘CO₂ credits’ to other manufacturers. This way, the electric vehicle manufacturer earns nice pocket money, while the traditional car manufacturer, thanks to avoiding huge European fines, still comes out cheaper.

It turns out that almost no manufacturer remains below the norm on its own. Exceptions are brands like Tesla and BYD.

BMW is the only European car manufacturer to remain below the CO2 standard entirely on its own in 2025. Together with the Mini sub-brand, it has managed to do so very convincingly, according to data from The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), which reveals that the brand was already 3 grams below the maximum in 2025.

Considering that the electric offensive of the Neue Klasse model has just begun and that the order books for the new iX3 are full, it is clear that the Germans do not need to worry.

As the BMW blog reports, speaking at the annual conference this week, CEO Oliver Zipse revealed that more than 50,000 people have ordered the iX3 so far. That’s a remarkable response considering that the order books opened about six months ago. BMW began taking orders in early September, when the Neue Klasse SUV premiered at the IAA Mobility 2025.

On the other hand, just because BMW complies with the standards doesn’t mean the brand is satisfied with the rules. According to BMW boss Oliver Zipse, the EU is isolating itself from the rest of the world due to strict regulations and a particularly strong focus on pure electric drive.

According to him, BMW prefers to look at the bigger picture and claims that the iX3 is an exceptionally clean car ‘from cradle to grave.’ In Europe, according to BMW, the iX3 has already offset the higher CO2 emissions during production after only 21,500 kilometres, according to Autoweek.

“We have set the right direction, and we see no reason to change it,” Zipse concluded.

• Also See: VW To Be Fined 1.5 Billion Euros Over Exceeding CO2 Emissions