The recession is to thank for the lower new car emission levels recorded last year, it has been claimed.

CO2 emissions from the average new car decreased by a record margin, falling by 5.4 per cent compared with 2008 figures and 21.2 per cent from the 1997 base levels.

Head of communications for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, Neil Wallis, said the reduction in levels was due to the combined impact of the recession and government-funded scrappage scheme, which ends this month.

European Union (EU) regulation has also been a driving force behind the reduction as it will be costly for the car industry if it does not meet the EU targets, he said.

The economic downturn has caused people to look at ways of reducing their driving costs and one way of achieving this is through buying smaller cars, which are in lower car tax bands and are also more eco-friendly, reducing CO2 emissions.

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