PSA Peugeot Citroën again confirmed its leading status in low emissions vehicles in 2006, with European sales of nearly a million vehicles with emissions of less than 140g CO₂/km. Of these, more than 450,000 units emit less than 120g CO₂/km - 38% of this segment in Europe – and 200,000 emit less than 110g CO₂/km.

In France, the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) has placed PSA Peugeot Citroën top of its rankings for low average fleet CO₂ emissions for the second year running. Across all new car sales in France, average CO₂ emissions were just 140g/km in 2006.

This performance reflects an active commitment that has long led the Group to focus its research and development on lowering CO₂ emissions.

One of the determining factors in meeting this goal has been the comprehensive revitalisation of the engine line-up. The broad deployment of modern HDi common-rail technologies across the Peugeot and Citroën model ranges has driven a 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with the previous generation of engines. More than nine million vehicles equipped with HDi common-rail engines have been sold to date.

Other technologies, such as the Stop & Start system introduced on the Citroën C2 and C3, can cut CO₂ emissions by 8 to 15% in city driving.

PSA Peugeot Citroën is pursuing other research projects to reduce CO₂ emissions, especially through the Hybrid HDi programme. The Peugeot 307 and Citroën C4 Hybrid HDi demonstrators have set radical new performance standards with fuel consumption of 3.4 litre/100 km and CO₂ emissions of 90 g/km.