Latest News from the CVMA

Auto Sector Reaches Voluntary Agreement with the Government of Canada to Reduce Greenhouse Gases.

Windsor, ON – 2005-04-05

Canada’s automotive sector today announced a voluntary agreement with the Government of Canada to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Canada’s vehicle fleet by 5.3 megatonnes by the end of 2010. The agreement is consistent with the GHG reduction goal for light duty vehicles set out in the government’s 2002 Climate Change Plan for Canada.

To achieve the 5.3 megatonne GHG reduction objective for the sector, the Canadian automobile industry will deliver on a broad action plan that will:

	Offer and promote a wide variety of fuel saving vehicle technologies including hybrid powertrains, cylinder deactivation technology, advanced diesel technology, alternative fuel compatible vehicles and other emerging technologies.
	Pursue design and engineering improvements without compromising vehicle occupant safety.
	Bring forward technologies that promote fuel savings such as on-board diagnostics and tire pressure monitoring systems.
	Help Canadians understand what they can do to reduce GHG emissions and will support positive consumer and driver behaviour with respect to the purchase, maintenance and operation of cars and light duty trucks across Canada.
	Encourage the appropriate use of alternative fuels such as ethanol, clean diesel and bio diesel and will work with the government and fuel providers in this regard.
	Work with the government to support Canadian-based research and development related to future technologies with the potential to significantly reduce GHGs after 2010 such as hydrogen fuel cells, the development of a hydrogen infrastructure in Canada and other emerging technologies.

Backgrounder: The Automotive Industry in Canada.

Backgrounder: Auto Industry - Reducing Emissions.

Backgrounder: Reducing Emissions - Reference.

Memorandum of Understanding.

The agreement provides for a joint government-industry committee to monitor annual progress and industry performance against projected interim GHG reduction goals as a means of ensuring accountability. The 5.3 megatonne GHG reduction goal by 2010 is based on updating the work of the 1999 Government Transportation Climate Change Table and its projections of vehicle-related GHG emissions, and NRCan’s “Canada’s Emission Outlook: An Update, December 1999”.

These undertakings build upon significant achievements made to date in the reduction of smog causing, vehicle related emissions. New Tier 2 emission vehicle technologies now entering the market are expected to reduce smog-causing emissions by 99% from pre-control levels. These standards which will contribute significantly to improved air quality are the most stringent national standards in the world and for the first time, will apply equally to both passenger cars and light duty trucks, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
This agreement builds upon the industry’s track record of successful voluntary agreements in Canada in a number of areas including vehicle safety, fuel consumption and emissions reductions. The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) played a role in the decisions leading up to the agreement and will further help its success by reaching out to communities across Canada.

For further information please contact:

Mark Nantais
President
Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association
416.364.9333

Adrian Coleman
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada
416.595.8251, extension 25

Back to the latest news page >>