Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp., South Korea’s two leading automakers, have outperformed the standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles, a report showed Thursday.
The EPA requires vehicles to emit less than the standards it sets for each automaker. It has released its latest report on the analysis of 2013 models of passenger and recreational vehicles on its website.
According to the report, Hyundai Motor vehicles produced 27 grams less in carbon dioxide gas emissions than the 263 gram requirement, which was the largest margin among major automakers.
In absolute terms, Hyundai cars outperformed the other major automakers. They produced less than the vehicles of Mazda, Nissan and Subaru, which emitted 251 grams, 260 grams and 264 grams, respectively.
Kia Motors, a smaller affiliate of Hyundai Motor, also outperformed the EPA requirements, with its vehicles producing 248 grams of greenhouse gases, lower than the 259 gram standard set by the agency.
Hyundai and Kia were among nine automakers, which passed the EPA standards. Four companies — Fiat Chrysler, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Volkswagen — failed to comply with the requirements.
Meanwhile, the 13 major automakers analyzed by the EPA emitted an average of 12 grams less than required, the second straight year that the standards have been met for the whole industry.
Hyundai and Kia were not included in the analysis of 2012 models since they were under investigation for allegedly exaggerating fuel efficiency for their cars. Last November, the two agreed with the EPA to pay a combined $100 million in penalties in connection with the issue. (Yonhap)
