The European Parliament has voted to give car and light-van manufacturers three more years to cut average carbon dioxide emissions to 125g/km.

Ahead of formal proposals from the European Commission, anticipated next year, MEPs said a deadline should be 2015, as opposed to preliminary suggestions of 2012.

The Parliament’s emissions spokesman Chris Davies, a British Liberal Democrat MEP, said: “These improvements may increase the price of new cars but…reduced emissions mean improved fuel economy, so those who buy the cars will save money.”

Mr Davies said that calls to cut average emissions to below 160g/km, “means giving industry specific targets and sufficient time to make the changes”.

MEPs said manufacturers should meet these targets by "technical means alone", without relying on other CO2 saving measures, such as biofuels, special tyres, or improvements in air-conditioning systems.

They also said the Commission’s oncoming proposal should include cap of 95g/km by 2020.