Consumers and environment: availibility of information on fuel economy of new passengers cars

The committee adopted the report by Mrs Marie-Paule KESTELIJN-SIERENS (ELDR, B) on a proposal for a Council Directive on the availability of consumer information on fuel economy in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars. The proposal provides for: a fuel economy label attached to new passenger cars; the drawing up of a guide containing fuel economy data for new cars and a list of the ten best cars for fuel economy; posters at the point of sale giving fuel consumption data for the cars on display and the inclusion of fuel consumption data in all printed promotional material used by manufacturers. The amendments adopted in committee seek to: guarantee the provision of specific information on CO2 emissions; delete the requirement to provide information on estimated fuel costs (which could wrongly favour diesel); simplify the information on fuel consumption by making the distinction between consumption in and outside urban areas; remind the consumer that certain additional equipment such as air conditioning, may increase fuel consumption substantially. �