Car manufacturers only reduced their CO2 emissions by 1.7% over the past year, compared to the average 17% cut they will have to achieve within the next four years to comply with planned European legislation, according to data published by Transport & Environment. German carmaker BMW achieved a 7.3% cut in its fleet’s emissions last year alone, while Japanese manufacturer Honda’s average CO2 emissions actually increased by 1.1%. French and Italian manufacturers remain in the best position to meet the 130 grammes of CO2 per km target by 2012, which was proposed by the European Commission last December and that is supported by the EU Parliament draft report that will be voted on September 8. Last June In June, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Sarkozy, who currently holds the EU Presidency, agreed to allow a “substantial” phasing-in period as well as deviations of up to eight grammes.