Average CO2 emissions for cars ordered on Zenith’s salary sacrifice car schemes this year are just 99g/km. The figure is over 20% lower than the latest figures published this week by the SMMT for new car registrations in 2014 of 124.6g/km CO2. 

Zenith said the fall can be attributed to increased uptake of alternative fuelled cars, along with the continued drop in average CO2 emissions for new fossil fuelled cars. The structure of the schemes incentivises take-up of the lowest emitting cars. Alternatively fuelled cars now account for 12% of all Zenith’s salary sacrifice car scheme orders. This compares to 2% for new car registrations in 2014, according to the SMMT report. 

Across traditional company car schemes average emissions for new cars ordered this year have dropped to 108g/km, from 113g/km a year ago. The decrease has been due to factors including lower emissions for new cars, the Benefit-in-Kind tax structure, increased uptake of alternatively fuelled cars, changes to capital allowances which have led to lower emissions caps and incentive schemes. 

Ian Hughes, commercial director for Zenith, commented: “As the tax regime continues to incentivise low CO2 emitting cars and manufacturers are advancing their technology, through hybrids and electric cars in particular, we are continuing to see significant falls in emissions each year. Drivers and companies are also benefitting from improved fuel economy and lower fuel bills.”