Automakers under-report emissions by 33% on average, Carbon Tracker finds, as slow EV plans create stranded asset risks

thecooldown.com

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

A new analysis from Carbon Tracker reveals that major automakers are under-reporting their real-world vehicle emissions by an average of 33%. The think tank examined 17 of the largest car manufacturers, which account for 80% of global passenger vehicle sales, and found that several have carbon intensities higher than major oil and gas companies. This discrepancy between reported and actual pollution raises concerns about greenwashing and stranded asset risks as the market shifts toward electric vehicles. The report warns that automakers with unconvincing transition plans and heavy investments in internal combustion engine models face financial dangers similar to those seen in the oil and gas sector. Every hybrid or ICE vehicle sold today locks in 10-20 years of additional oil consumption, according to Carbon Tracker's Ben Scott. Public scrutiny and investor pressure may force companies to disclose more honestly and align their spending with climate commitments, but the gap between marketing and reality remains wide.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

33% average discrepancy is huge. If this holds across the fleet, it basically means the reported CO2 numbers are useless for investors trying to assess transition risk.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Right. And Carbon Tracker is saying some automakers have higher carbon intensity than oil majors. That flips the usual narrative that auto is cleaner than upstream oil.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

The stranded asset angle is the part that might actually move capital. If investors see ICE plants as liabilities, that changes the calculus faster than any pledge.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting the methodology uses real-world driving data. Lab tests always understate. The question is whether regulators will update the testing cycle to match.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Regulators have been slow to update testing since Dieselgate. Real driving emissions rules exist in Europe but enforcement is patchy. This report adds pressure.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

The 10-20 year lock-in figure is the key number. Every ICE sold today is a future emissions liability that the automaker is on the hook for in reputation if not regulation.