MANUFACTURERS are expected to publish easily comprehensible vehicle carbon dioxide emission data 'as soon as possible' and definitely before the March Budget, according to the Association of Car Fleet Operators. Seventeen manufacturers met with ACFO leaders and senior fleet managers as well as representatives of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Inland Revenue and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in London.

The 'CO2 summit' was organised by ACFO to ensure all manufacturers published vehicle CO2 information in all publicity - brochures, prices lists, internet etc - so fleet managers can easily locate and understand the figures. While ACFO praised some manufacturers - Honda and Toyota - for the 'easily comprehensible and complete way' their CO2 data was published, other manufacturers publish data which is difficult to understand such as an Audi A4 saloon/Avant described in the Vehicle Certification Agency's 'New Car Fuel Consumption and Emission Figures' data as 'AHL 1.6 74KW 1250 kg'.

ACFO director Stewart Whyte said: 'We are now looking to the manufacturers to take this issue forward and consolidate their CO2 data into consistent information which is published in an easily understood format. We expect it to happen before the March Budget when the Chancellor of the Exchequer announces the shape of the CO2-based company car tax and graduated Vehicle Excise Duty systems. Manufacturers now realise fleets need CO2 information model by model, price by price and derivative by derivative in plain English.'