GM North America (U.S. and Canada only)

Fuel Economy

In the United States, the average fuel economy of our new cars and light trucks has increased over 130 percent and 75 percent, respectively, since 1974 (see graph). Since 1990, new vehicle fuel economy has been relatively constant, reflecting increased disposable income and relatively low fuel prices.

Greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy are directly related. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), a greenhouse gas emission, is emitted by the combustion of gasoline or diesel fuel in an engine. CO₂ emissions from vehicles can be reduced through improved vehicle efficiency and responsible vehicle operation. For this reason, control of CO₂ emissions from vehicles is tantamount to fuel economy controls.

The fleet of GM produced vehicles, from which our 2006 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is calculated, is meeting the U.S. CAFE standards of 27.5 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars and 21.6 mpg for trucks.

Compare GM model-to-model fuel economy to other manufacturers

In Canada, the fuel consumption (measured in liters per 100 kilometers or l/100 kilometer) of GM passenger cars and light trucks has followed similar trends as the U.S. fleets. GM Canada's car and truck fleets are meeting their Company Average Fuel Consumption (CAFC) targets of 8.6 l/100 km and 11.4 l/100 km respectively.

Reducing exhaust emissions

Exhaust emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulates, hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) can cause environmental impacts. Since the mid-1960s, emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides have significantly decreased.

In the U.S., GM began meeting very stringent Federal Tier 2 and California low emission vehicle (LEV) II standards in the 2004 model year. In 2004, 45 percent of the cars and light light-duty trucks (LLDT)s that GM sold met the Tier 2 standard, exceeding the 25 percent requirement. In 2005, 66 percent of GM’s cars and LLDTs sold met the Tier 2 standard, exceeding the 50 percent requirement. Once fully phased in, all GM cars and light-duty trucks will meet these standards, which cut smog-forming emissions (HC + NOx) by 99 percent relative to mid-1960's models. GM is also meeting more stringent standards for evaporative hydrocarbon emissions that began to phase in starting in 2004. In Canada, GM sells vehicles that meet these stringent U.S. Federal standards.

Europe

Reducing exhaust emissions

With the latest Euro 4 standards, which became effective in 2005, emission levels of carbon monoxide and combined emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides have been reduced by 97 percent since 1970, when emission standards were first introduced. The most significant reductions were achieved between 1993-2005, with CO emissions reduced by 83 percent, combined HC + NOx by 69 percent and particulate matter (PM - from diesel engines) by 82 percent.

In 1989, GM was the first automobile manufacturer in Europe to supply all passenger cars with standard closed-loop, three-way catalytic converters. Since then, GM has complied with Euro 2, Euro 3, and Euro 4 emissions standards long before they became mandatory.

Taking the Lead with Diesel Particulate Filters

GM's core brand in Germany, Opel, has a long tradition for the development and application of vehicles and technologies that bring environmental improvement. With its newest-generation Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), Opel again takes a leading role among German car manufacturers.

Opel now offers many of its diesel passenger cars with a particulate filter. In Germany, Opel offers its DPF technology as standard in three important volume segments, with a particulate filter in all 1.3-liter and 1.9-liter CDTI versions of the Astra, as well as in all diesel variants of the Vectra, Signum (1.9-liter and 3.0-liter V6), and the new Zafira. In addition, Opel is offering, through its dealerships, retrofit solutions for many of its current and previous diesel engines.

Opel's diesel particulate filter reduces particulate emissions to almost zero. The innovative DPF is integrated in the electronic engine management system. It operates without decreasing performance or increasing fuel consumption and represents state-of-the-art technology: the Opel DPF does not require fuel additives, thereby avoiding the disadvantages of other systems. A further benefit of Opel's DPF system is that it is completely maintenance free over the entire vehicle life cycle.

DPFs are also used in the new 2.0 l VCDi engine manufactured by GM Daewoo in South Korea, and powering the Chevrolet Captiva/GM Daewoo Winstorm/Opel/Vauxhall Antara, as well as the Chevrolet Epica/GM Daewoo Tosca and other models in the near future. It comes standard with a maintenance-free DPF.