China unveils world's first auto carbon footprint platform

China launched the world's first automotive carbon footprint platform on Thursday, which is expected to help the automotive industry to realize the country's dual carbon goals.

As the world's second largest economy, China pledged to peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

Vehicle production and use makes up almost 8 percent of total carbon emissions in China, said An Tiecheng, chairman of China Automotive Technology & Research Center.

He said that the platform is expected to facilitate the automotive industry's green transformation that will prove crucial to its high-quality development.

The platform, run by China Automotive Carbon Digital Technology Center, has carbon-related statistics about over 5,000 automotive products including passenger vehicles, automotive components as well as raw materials.

Statistics show that a mid-sized electric sedan will have carbon emissions weighing 36.4 tons in its whole life cycle, of which 16 tons are generated in its manufacturing process.

Information about buses and trucks, motorbikes as well as imported vehicles sold in the country will become available later, said China Automotive Carbon Digital Technology Center.

Zhao Dongchang, president of the center, said it will focus on the auto industry's decarbonization solutions and also serve the authorities' decision-making in the segment.

Xiong Zhe, an official at the National Development and Reform Commission, said a clearer understanding of automotive products' carbon emissions will become essential for vehicle companies to explore overseas markets.

Among other things, the European Commission has demanded that from July 2024 EV batteries must be accompanied by a carbon footprint declaration.

Many major international carmakers have come up with their own carbon roadmaps.

BMW plans to reduce carbon emissions across the life cycle of its vehicles - including the production process - at least 40 percent from 2019 levels by 2030.

Great Wall Motors, China's largest SUV and pickup truck maker, aims to become carbon-neutral by 2045.