In the US or Japan, a common answer to the question of who makes the greenest car is Toyota, thanks to its high-profile 105g/km CO2 Prius. But in Europe, where fuel economy expectations are higher, you are as likely to hear the names Volkswagen, Citroën or Fiat. And given that Toyota’s few other hybrids are large and powerful, in general its cars compare badly with those of European manufacturers.

If investment in low-carbon technologies are taken into account, Toyota, the world’s largest car-maker, does well: it will have hybrids across its entire range by 2020, and by then expects to be marketing fuel-cell cars commercially.

Even back in 2003, a study on the impact of climate change to the global competitiveness of nine car-makers by the SAM Group said Toyota was best placed to take advantage of new opportunities.

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