American Honda had the lowest fleet-average CO2 emissions among major full-line automakers for model year 2012

TORRANCE, CA--Dec. 18, 2013: American Honda had the highest fleet-average fuel economy, largest year-over-year fuel economy increase and lowest CO2 emissions of any full-line automaker in the U.S. for model year 2012 (MY2012), according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its just-released fuel-economy trends report, "Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2013."

Among major automakers selling cars, trucks and luxury vehicles in the U.S., American Honda -- including both the Honda and Acura automobile brands -- achieved the highest fleet-average fuel economy of 26.6 miles per gallon1 for MY2012, representing a 9.7 percent, or 2.5 mpg, increase over MY2011 results.

Additional highlights of the EPA report:

According to the report: "Of the makes with higher production, for the 11 manufacturers shown, Honda had the highest adjusted fuel economy at 27.2 mpg." [page 39 of report] At 27.2 mpg, the Honda brand outperformed Mazda by a tenth of an mpg, despite selling larger vehicles such as the Pilot SUV, Odyssey minivan and Ridgeline pickup. With MY2012 fleet fuel economy of 26.6 mpg American Honda exceeded the industry average of 23.6 mpg for all vehicles, by 12.7%. This was exceeded by only one major automaker, Mazda, which does not sell larger light trucks or luxury-brand vehicles. American Honda had the lowest fleet-average CO2 emissions among major full-line automakers for model year 2012, at 334 grams/mile, and second lowest among all automakers, exceeded only by Mazda, and the Honda brand with its larger vehicles performed better than the Mazda brand (327 vs. 328 CO2 grams/mile)

Moreover, while achieving top-level fuel economy performance, American Honda also is leading in the area of automobile safety with seven models that achieve a TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – the 2013 Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe, the 2013 Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe, the 2014 Odyssey minivan, and the 2013 Acura TL performance-luxury sedan, the most of any automaker.

Last month, the 2014 Accord was chosen as the 2013 "Green Car of the Year" by the editor's of Green Car Journal. At 50 mpg2, the 2014 Accord Hybrid has the highest EPA city fuel-economy rating of any five-passenger sedan sold in America.

The ninth-generation Accord was the first Honda vehicle to use advanced new engines and transmissions from Honda's innovative Earth Dreams Technology powertrain lineup, which deliver both outstanding performance and fuel efficiency at a very high level. Honda will expand the use of Earth Dreams Technology powertrains to additional models in the future, including an all-new Fit small car slated for launch next spring.