Leading cars emit 50% more CO2 than they claim

A study shows leading car brands such as Mercedes, BMW and Peugeot are pumping out around 50% more CO2 than they claim in official tests.

It comes amid claims the Volkswagen scandal is just “the tip of the iceberg”.

The study, by sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E), found that new EU cars, including the Mercedes A, C and E class, BMW 5 series and Peugeot 308, used around 50% more fuel than manufacturers claimed, directly impacting CO2 emissions. T&E said the gap between official lab results and real-world performance found in many models has grown so wide it cannot be explained through known factors, including test manipulations.