Half of all new cars are now SUVs, making them a major cause of the intensifying climate crisis, say experts
Sales of SUVs hit a new record in 2023, making up half of all new cars sold globally, data has revealed. Experts warned that the rising sales of the large, heavy vehicles is pushing up the carbon emissions that drive global heating.
The analysis, by the International Energy Agency, found that the rising emissions from SUVs in 2023 made up 20% of the global increase in CO2, making the vehicles a major cause of the intensifying climate crisis. If SUVs were a country, the IEA said, they would be the world’s fifth-largest emitter of CO2, ahead of the national emissions of both Japan and Germany.
Climate-fuelled extreme weather is increasing, with urgent cuts in emissions needed. But emissions from the global transport sector have risen fast in recent years, outside of the Covid pandemic. SUV sales rose 15% in 2023, compared with a 3% rise for conventional cars.
GM doesn’t even sell regular cars any more do they? All hatchbacks SUVs and trucks.
I was going to say something similar. Nobody sells small cars anymore. And if they do, they try as hard as they can to get you to buy something else. I’m currently trying to buy a Prius and I have one on hold, but it won’t be available for months and when we went to various dealers, they just didn’t have any to test drive and instead wanted us to test drive their SUVs. I’ve never wanted a large car. In fact, I would prefer if my next car was a small electric hatchback, but they just don’t sell that here in the US.
GM tried killing the Bolt, a small and, cheap hatchback, and replacing it with the Equinox EV, a much more expensive SUV. They did not make any for 2024 because they were planning on ending production but we’re met with tons of backlash for killing one of their most popular vehicles so they will be moving it to the Optium platform. I doubt they will lower the price of it despite them moving to Optium because it will allow cheaper production.
I get that larger vehicles offer higher margins but smaller commuter vehicles are still very necessary and wanted. The Bolt’s sales figures show that pretty clearly.
Automakers aren’t encouraged to create more efficient small vehicles. The US emissions system is based on the vehicle’s footprint rather than its total output. Therefore, it’s more “climate friendly” in marketing to make an underpowered larger vehicle.
Malibu die off too? Cadillac still has sedans.
They are indeed killing the Malibu.
Guess I’ll be riding out my impala fleet (2 currently) til it dies, don’t exactly have cadillac money.
We need to drive electric cars says man who flys everywhere on a private jet.
I don’t think Damian Carrington flies* much of anywhere in a private jet.
Tap for spoiler
He’s the author of this article
I’m pretty sure he was referring to Musk.
…why? Did a Ctrl+F for “Musk” on the article and found nothing.
I agree with the “fuck, Elon” sentiment especially considering he will use his plane to fly 15 miles, but private air travel makes up a negligible amount of CO2 emissions.
This is 100% a China and US problem - nowhere else in the world would these Wankpanzers be a status symbol. What’s required is a re-education of the Nouveau Riche to make a better choice.
Global birth of farting and shitting humans reaches a high in 2024. Sigh.
