October 30, 2007

JAMA Publishes Its 2007 Report on Environmental Protection Efforts of the Japanese Automobile Industry

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (under the chairmanship of Mr Fujio Cho) has recently published the Japanese edition of its 2007 Report on Environmental Protection Efforts, an overview of the environmental protection measures that have been adopted by the Japanese automobile industry. An English edition is currently in preparation.

JAMA and its member manufacturers are working hard to enhance environmental performance in the automotive sector—in other words, to achieve greater harmony between society’s road transport requirements and the need to protect our natural environment. Among their broad-ranging efforts in the area of environmental responsibility, Japanese automakers are continuously striving for further progress in countering global warming, improving air quality, and advancing recycling.

JAMA’s report describes these efforts and outlines the goals (including numerical targets) that have been established in Japan in all areas of activity pertaining to the life cycle of automobiles, from design and development to production, use, and end-of-life disposal through recycling. The report also summarizes the results of these efforts that have been obtained to date.

The Japanese automakers’ most significant advances in environmental performance in fiscal 2006 included:

  • The early achievement of vehicle fuel-economy targets
    The average fuel-efficiency performance of new gasoline-powered passenger cars reached 16.0 km/l, exceeding the target of 15.1 km/l established for 2010.
  • The expanded introduction of low-emission cars
    Passenger cars that are certified as low-emission vehicles now constitute 95% of all new cars in the market. Of that share, 90% comprises models whose emissions are down either by 75% (a 4-star rating) or by 50% (a 3-star rating) from 2005 emission standards.
  • Advances in end-of-life vehicle recycling
    The recycling rate of automobile shredder residue (ASR) now stands between 63.7% and 75.0%, already surpassing the 50% target rate set for fiscal 2010.
  • Greater environmental protection in manufacturing activities
    Automakers have met the latest targets established for the reduction of CO2 and VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions and waste matter in plant operations.

Availability: JAMA’s 2007 report on the Japanese automobile industry’s environmental efforts is available on JAMA’s Web site at:
PDFwww.jama-english.jp/publications/env_prot_report_2007.pdf

Hard-copy version: 1,500 copies (in Japanese)

Distribution targets: Vehicle users and the general public, government ministries and agencies, automotive experts, the media, etc.

Summary of contents:

  1. Basic Stance and Principal Activities
  2. Environmental Protection in Motor Vehicle Performance
    • Curbing global warming
    • Reducing the hazards of mobile air conditioners
    • Promoting the wider use of clean-energy vehicles
    • Improving air quality
    • Restricting the use of in-cabin volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
    • Reducing noise
  3. Environmental Protection in Manufacturing Operations & Distribution
    • Reducing CO2 emissions and waste in the production process
    • Reducing CO2 emissions in logistics
  4. End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling
    • Efficient recycling and appropriate processing
    • Reductions in the use of hazardous substances, etc.
  5. Road-Related Environmental Protection Measures
    • Improving traffic flow
    • Promoting eco-driving

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