Half of all new cars are now SUVs, making them a major cause of the intensifying climate crisis, say experts
Sales of SUVs hit a new record in 2023, making up half of all new cars sold globally, data has revealed. Experts warned that the rising sales of the large, heavy vehicles is pushing up the carbon emissions that drive global heating.
The analysis, by the International Energy Agency, found that the rising emissions from SUVs in 2023 made up 20% of the global increase in CO2, making the vehicles a major cause of the intensifying climate crisis. If SUVs were a country, the IEA said, they would be the world’s fifth-largest emitter of CO2, ahead of the national emissions of both Japan and Germany.
Climate-fuelled extreme weather is increasing, with urgent cuts in emissions needed. But emissions from the global transport sector have risen fast in recent years, outside of the Covid pandemic. SUV sales rose 15% in 2023, compared with a 3% rise for conventional cars.
GM tried killing the Bolt, a small and, cheap hatchback, and replacing it with the Equinox EV, a much more expensive SUV. They did not make any for 2024 because they were planning on ending production but we’re met with tons of backlash for killing one of their most popular vehicles so they will be moving it to the Optium platform. I doubt they will lower the price of it despite them moving to Optium because it will allow cheaper production.
I get that larger vehicles offer higher margins but smaller commuter vehicles are still very necessary and wanted. The Bolt’s sales figures show that pretty clearly.