A meeting of EU member states has delayed for a third time a target to cut average CO2 emissions in Europe to 95 grams per km by 2020. The move comes after strong lobbying from the Germany carmakers how felt the limit would be too restrictive too soon.

Germany's call to delay a vote on the limit was backed by Britain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. If agreed the move would have seen average emissions of new cars sold in the EU drop to 95g/km by 2020 from about 130/g/km now. This would have meant car makers having to increase average fuel consumption to the equivalent of 71 mpg.

German car makers, who produce many larger cars which might struggle to reach the new limit in a relatively short time, have proposed a phase-in period with the 95g/km limit only applying to 80% of cars produced in 2020, rising by 5% each year to reach full implementation only in 2024.

A target to reduce average CO2 emissions from commercial vans to 147g/km by 2020 has been endorsed by the EU and will now become law.