A senior representative from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) put forward the plan at a conference in Amsterdam recently.
Called Energy in Motion, the conference heard from ACEA secretary-general Ivan Hodac in a session entitled 'CO2 Reductions - Status and Way Forward'.
Hodac told delegates that the industry was committed to reducing overall CO2 emissions from passenger cars but that an 'integrated approach' involving other sectors such as fuel, infrastructure and the driver was key to a successful outcome.
The European car manufacturing industry, along with those in Japan and Korea, are committed to reducing the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars to 140g/km by 2008.
Hodac said: 'The vehicle-focused commitment has reduced CO2 emissions substantially and will lead to further CO2 emission reductions until the end of the commitment period in 2008.
'Nevertheless, we have to be aware that there are also other targets on safety, regulated emissions and the recyclability of vehicles, which have an impact on CO2 emissions. We also have to be aware that vehicle technologies to reduce CO2 emissions are becoming increasingly costly. Vehicles have to remain competitive on the global market.
'We therefore promote the inclusion of other stakeholders into a joint effort to reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector. This would increase effectiveness and reduce costs to reach potential CO2 reduction targets.'
Hodac said meeting the CO2 commitment of 2008 was a 'difficult and challenging' task and that after 2008 other transport industry sectors must get involved.
Hodac said: 'ACEA is convinced that such an integrated approach will provide more CO2 reductions faster and more cost-effectively.
'Cost-effectiveness in reducing CO2 emissions is essential to protect the economic health and global competitiveness not only of the European automotive industry, but also of the EU economy as a whole.'
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