√2022 FCAI Australian vehicle emissions report: Biggest polluters on our roads revealed

The biggest polluters on Australian roads have been revealed for the third year in a row, as the automotive industry struggles to meet voluntary targets on the eve of policy discussions over mandated regulations.

US pick-ups, V8-powered luxury SUVs and a surge in sales of Chinese utes – equipped with less efficient engines than their peers – drove an increase in motor vehicle emissions in Australia last year at a time when the industry is being pressured to reduce air pollution, according to an annual report compiled by the automotive sector.

While record sales of hybrid vehicles helped deliver the biggest emissions reduction to date in the passenger-car category, the big polluters got worse not better.

A damning report into new motor vehicle emissions in Australia – compiled voluntarily by the car industry in anticipation of federal mandates – has been released for the third year in a row.

As was the case the year prior, approximately one-third of new cars sold in 2022 belched out almost two-thirds of the nation’s automotive CO2 emissions.

As previously reported, tailpipe pollution from Australia’s biggest emitting vehicles went up – not down – despite bold promises from the automotive industry to reduce environmental harm.

US car giant Chevrolet – which sells the Corvette sports car and V8-powered Silverado pick-up – blew the meter and exceeded its emissions target by more than any other brand, industry data shows.

Mercedes-Benz was the also among the biggest polluters in the four-wheel-drive category, as were Chinese brands Great Wall Motors and LDV.

Nissan, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi and Jeep also did not cover themselves in glory in the emissions category covering utes, vans and recreational vehicles.

In the passenger-car category, Lamborghini blew the lid off its emissions reduction target, as did Chevrolet, Chrysler and Ferrari and Maserati.

To see how the emissions reductions of each brand ranked in Australia last year, check the tables below.

The first table is for utes, vans and four-wheel-drives – the biggest polluters – while the second table is for passenger cars and SUVs, which were the most improved.

Each car brand has been ranked based on how much they exceeded – or reduced – their emissions reductions targets.

MORE: 2022 Australian motor vehicle emissions preliminary report
MORE: 2021 Australian motor vehicle emissions rankings

Utes, vans and 4WDs/full-size SUVs	Sales in 2022	CO2 emissions average	CO2 emissions target	Above or below target
Chevrolet	1823	305.256	228.269	76.987
Mercedes-Benz Cars	426	292.571	232.106	60.464
Great Wall Motors Haval	7832	245.550	192.317	53.234
Nissan	16,090	255.276	213.252	42.024
Volkswagen	6450	222.018	183.804	38.214
LDV	11,955	237.308	199.498	37.809
Mitsubishi	37,124	219.031	185.066	33.966
Jeep	5618	228.103	196.042	32.061
Suzuki	1262	152.124	121.624	30.500
SsangYong	3428	227.749	203.044	24.705
Category average 2022		212.767	189.000	23.767
Ram	5332	263.293	240.082	23.211
Category average 2020		216.683	197.000	19.683
Category average 2021		212.534	193.000	19.534
Isuzu	33,768	209.627	192.980	16.647
Lexus	288	256.064	239.533	16.531
Mazda	15,498	201.045	185.323	15.721
Toyota	132,015	212.186	197.693	14.493
Land Rover	3659	212.549	205.762	6.787
Ford	58,448	214.700	209.265	5.435
Hyundai	3369	183.044	184.897	-1.853
Renault	1957	161.656	163.860	-2.204
Porsche	1581	191.967	195.595	-3.628
Peugeot	599	151.754	158.079	-6.325
Subaru	20,375	155.013	162.014	-7.001
BMW	3895	167.898	175.058	-7.160
Audi	1608	194.411	203.366	-8.955
Mercedes-Benz Vans	938	175.236	188.994	-13.757
Alfa Romeo	8	140.600	163.425	-22.825
Volvo	1258	128.441	202.336	-73.896

Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

Passenger cars and SUVs	Sales in 2022	CO2 emissions average	CO2 emissions target	Above or below target
Lamborghini	176	330.761	171.002	159.759
Chevrolet	225	313.000	157.820	155.180
Chrysler	78	292.794	187.973	104.821
Ferrari	207	247.240	155.480	91.759
Maserati	594	235.659	185.137	50.522
LDV	1133	242.882	195.700	47.183
Jeep	1040	192.613	159.098	33.514
Alpine	4	147.500	117.288	30.212
SsangYong	520	176.473	147.459	29.014
Ford	7783	185.699	157.520	28.179
GWM	17,218	172.989	148.196	24.793
Renault	5,259	165.484	141.635	23.849
MG	49,073	157.245	133.980	23.266
Subaru	15,660	164.317	144.795	19.522
Land Rover	689	186.296	167.069	19.227
Isuzu	1549	206.000	188.257	17.743
Mitsubishi	39,862	163.898	150.294	13.604
Suzuki	20,316	133.423	123.399	10.024
Nissan	10,054	160.842	150.998	9.844
Jaguar	700	182.148	172.544	9.604
Hyundai	69,976	154.067	145.025	9.041
Honda	14,214	150.404	144.682	5.722
Kia	78,330	154.911	150.942	3.969
Citroen	269	138.428	134.944	3.484
Fiat	365	109.503	108.518	0.985
Mazda	80,220	148.077	147.961	0.115
Audi	13,124	152.916	154.280	-1.364
Volkswagen	23,454	147.716	149.171	-1.455
Category average 2021		146.510	150.000	-3.490
Category average 2020		149.514	154.000	-4.486
Skoda	6502	139.952	146.748	-6.796
Alfa Romeo	559	145.684	153.968	-8.284
Cupra	1113	136.932	148.907	-11.975
Porsche	4023	158.163	172.648	-14.485
Category average 2022		131.138	146.000	-14.862
Peugeot	1405	127.303	143.283	-15.980
Mercedes-Benz Cars	26,391	150.547	171.353	-20.806
BMW	18,801	136.972	165.898	-28.926
Genesis	1039	148.769	185.112	-36.343
Toyota	94,673	105.369	146.876	-41.507
Mini	3002	87.179	137.189	-50.010
Mercedes-Benz Vans	797	166.120	216.149	-50.029
Lexus	6801	120.472	171.114	-50.642
Volvo	9457	98.258	176.821	-78.563
BYD	2113	0.000	165.018	-165.018
Tesla	19,594	0.000	172.050	-172.050
Polestar	1480	0.000	185.060	-185.060